Best Life Index › States › Maine › Cities › South Portland

Maine city profile

What Is It Like to Live in South Portland?

What it costs to live in South Portland, and how it compares with other Maine cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

62

3rd best value in Maine

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Maine cities.

Overall livability

69

2nd overall in Maine

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

South Portland is home to about 26,428 people. A typical home runs $293,700 and a household earns around $73,900, a price-to-income ratio of 4.0. Among Maine's largest cities, it ranks 3rd for value and 2nd overall.

South Portland at a glance

Median home price

$293,700

9th in ME of 12

Median rent

$1,465/mo

Median household income

$73,900

Home price to income

4.0x

Unemployment

4.1%

3rd in ME of 12

School rating

6/10

2nd in ME of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in ME of 12

Walk score

1/100

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‹ See all top Maine cities ranked  ยท  Maine state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Maine only. Updated 2026.