What are the schools like in Portland, ME?

Portland is served primarily by Portland Public Schools. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8:1.

What is the median household income in Portland?

The median household income in Portland, ME is $71,498 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

What is the weather like in Portland, ME?

Portland has an average high temperature of 32.4°F in January and 79.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 68.7 inches.

Portland, ME Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Portland, ME affordable or expensive?

Portland's cost of living index is 102, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portland is 2% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $411,600 and the median rent is $1,377 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Portland, ME?

Portland has a violent crime rate of 266.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2478.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portland, ME a Good Place to Live?

Portland is a mid-sized city of 68,280 in Maine, with a median household income of $71,498 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Portland stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Portland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Portland city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.5

Portland's overall cost of living index is 102.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portland costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric	Portland, ME	National Avg
Median Home Value	$411,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,377	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	45.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,498	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Portland's violent crime rate is 266.9 per 100,000 residents — 30% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

266.9 /100k

Property Crime

2478.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Portland is served primarily by Portland Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portland, ME	National Avg
School District	Portland Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	57.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portland sees average highs of 32.4°F in January and 79.5°F in July, with 48.1 inches of annual precipitation and 68.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portland, ME
Average High — January	32.4°F
Average High — July	79.5°F
Annual Precipitation	48.1"
Annual Snowfall	68.7"

Demographics

Metric	Portland, ME	National Avg
Population	68,280	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	3.4%	6.3%
Under 18	14.9%	22.2%
65 and over	16.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Portland, ME 5 mi Falmouth, ME 6 mi Falmouth Foreside, ME 7 mi Oak Hill, ME 8 mi Littlejohn Island, ME 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Portland

Portland, ME is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

04103 04102 04101 04109 04108 04019

Portland vs Other Cities

Portland, ME vs South Portland, ME Portland, ME vs Falmouth, ME Portland, ME vs Falmouth Foreside, ME Portland, ME vs Oak Hill, ME Portland, ME vs Littlejohn Island, ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portland, ME affordable or expensive?

Portland's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Portland roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $411,600 and median rent is $1,377/month.

What is the crime rate in Portland, ME?

Portland's violent crime rate is 266.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2478.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Portland?

Public schools in Portland are operated by Portland Public Schools. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. 57.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portland, ME a good place to live?

Portland, ME has a population of 68,280, a median household income of $71,498, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Portland?

Portland averages 32.4°F in January and 79.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.1 inches with about 68.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Portland?

Portland, ME is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 04103, 04102, 04101, 04109, 04108, 04019.

What is the population of Portland?

The population of Portland, Maine is 68,280 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Portland?

Key numbers for living in Portland: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $411,600, median household income $71,498, crime index 89 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Portland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.