State Guide

Best Places to Live in Maine

The most affordable, safest, and highest-income cities across 155 Maine cities — ranked from official data.

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Choosing where to live in Maine comes down to a few trade-offs — cost of living, safety, income, and schools. The rankings below pull those out from U.S. Census, FBI, and NCES data so you can see the standouts at a glance, then drill into any city or put two side by side.

Safest Cities in Maine

Lowest crime index (100 = U.S. average · lower is safer). Limited to cities with complete FBI reporting.

#City Crime Index Population
1 Saco 33 20,446
2 Brunswick 34 16,725
3 South Portland 36 26,656
4 Westbrook 50 20,339
5 Lewiston 68 37,577
6 Sanford 75 21,986
7 Auburn 80 24,038
8 Waterville 80 15,785
9 Portland 89 68,280
10 Biddeford 94 22,438

Highest-Income Cities in Maine

Highest median household income (US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates).

#City Median Income Population
1 South Portland $82,489 26,656
2 Saco $81,326 20,446
3 Westbrook $81,198 20,339
4 Sanford $71,848 21,986
5 Portland $71,498 68,280
6 Brunswick $66,696 16,725
7 Biddeford $63,261 22,438
8 Auburn $59,659 24,038
9 Lewiston $54,317 37,577
10 Orono $52,718 10,116

Best School Districts in Maine

Highest school-quality grade (student-teacher ratio, adult attainment, and graduation data where available).

#City School Grade Population
1 South Portland A+ 26,656
2 Orono A+ 10,116
3 Portland A 68,280
4 Brunswick A 16,725
5 Westbrook A 20,339
6 Saco A 20,446
7 Bangor A- 31,705
8 Biddeford B+ 22,438
9 Waterville B+ 15,785
10 Augusta B 18,938

Popular Maine City Comparisons

Head-to-head breakdowns of the state's largest cities.

Portland vs Lewiston Portland vs Bangor Portland vs South Portland Portland vs Auburn Portland vs Biddeford Portland vs Sanford Portland vs Saco Lewiston vs Bangor Lewiston vs South Portland Lewiston vs Auburn Lewiston vs Biddeford Lewiston vs Sanford

All Cities in Maine

Click any city for the full profile. Data from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates).

City Population Median Income Median Home Median Rent Unemployment Crime Index
Portland 68,280 $71,498 $411,600 $1,377 4.0% 89
Lewiston 37,577 $54,317 $189,500 $903 5.6% 68
Bangor 31,705 $52,438 $189,900 $930 4.5% 106
South Portland 26,656 $82,489 $360,000 $1,607 2.9% 36
Auburn 24,038 $59,659 $227,300 $926 6.5% 80
Biddeford 22,438 $63,261 $321,900 $1,102 4.7% 94
Sanford 21,986 $71,848 $238,000 $1,081 4.0% 75
Saco 20,446 $81,326 $345,200 $1,288 1.1% 33
Westbrook 20,339 $81,198 $300,400 $1,302 2.9% 50
Augusta 18,938 $45,006 $166,100 $865 7.7% 117
Brunswick 16,725 $66,696 $304,800 $1,180 4.3% 34
Waterville 15,785 $45,208 $154,400 $883 4.5% 80
Orono 10,116 $52,718 $212,900 $1,044 6.7% 9
Brewer 9,633 $55,870 $198,500 $970 2.7% 41
Old Orchard Beach 9,040 $62,335 $295,500 $1,017 5.6% 36
Bath 8,775 $63,023 $249,900 $934 5.2% 24
Presque Isle 8,772 $52,109 $137,100 $812 4.1% 76
Ellsworth 8,478 $61,233 $196,700 $885 2.2% 77
Old Town 7,458 $46,343 $165,200 $920 2.4% 25
Caribou 7,454 $47,803 $116,800 $636 2.0% 22
Gorham 7,050 $96,332 $424,900 $1,240 4.1% 11
Rockland 6,986 $52,212 $195,800 $948 6.5% 49
Belfast 6,953 $53,925 $240,700 $902 4.1% 6
Topsham 6,813 $75,801 $316,100 $1,119 5.4% 25
Skowhegan 6,270 $46,613 $124,500 $825 3.4% 92
Kennebunk 6,000 $88,996 $364,200 $1,159 6.5% 23
Gardiner 5,994 $57,329 $174,500 $872 10.2% 37
Yarmouth 5,937 $89,770 $472,600 $1,567 6.5% 22
Winslow 5,597 $53,896 $178,400 $868 2.4% 44
North Windham 5,525 $90,604 $273,300 $1,231 1.3% 17
Oak Hill 5,400 $89,265 $354,000 $1,509 3.6% 17
Kittery 5,197 $67,206 $359,600 $1,300 1.9% 31
Houlton 4,918 $50,625 $124,100 $652 18.6% 37
Hampden 4,466 $97,019 $263,800 $969 2.3% 11
Farmington 4,318 $40,350 $184,400 $832 4.4% 47
Lisbon Falls 4,177 $69,013 $196,800 $950 3.9% 54
Millinocket 4,136 $45,345 $86,900 $594 8.9% 35
Rumford 3,922 $35,818 $110,700 $567 6.7% 62
South Eliot 3,686 $91,457 $411,000 $1,570 2.6% 33
Camden 3,644 $92,857 $438,800 $1,146 5.2% 28
York Harbor 3,640 $89,647 $524,000 $1,392 0.7% 33
Lisbon 3,470 $72,019 $197,700 $829 3.3% 18
South Berwick 3,453 $79,688 $341,600 $1,217 5.8% 12
Pittsfield 3,148 $42,292 $134,700 — 1.6% 26
Calais 3,078 $45,250 $97,800 $698 9.8% 37
Bucksport 2,947 $48,942 $164,400 $672 8.2% 20
Cumberland Center 2,913 $116,891 $437,300 $1,346 4.8% 17
Lake Arrowhead 2,896 $80,819 $209,000 $1,850 1.6% 33
Dover-Foxcroft 2,836 $47,764 $128,100 $821 7.1% 19
Madawaska 2,726 $35,644 $152,700 $532 11.2% 23
Norway 2,698 $38,381 $128,600 $755 7.5% 39
Fairfield 2,647 $34,657 $136,300 $836 4.6% 61
Hallowell 2,558 $62,990 $237,300 $835 0.9% 46
Winthrop 2,546 $66,875 $216,700 $1,074 6.1% 29
Lincoln 2,521 $28,932 $117,900 $639 2.4% 35
Oakland 2,519 $41,499 $171,600 $847 0.7% 23
Fort Kent 2,515 $57,067 $130,300 $847 2.8% 10
Cape Neddick 2,462 $76,701 $575,200 $1,464 6.0% 33
Mechanic Falls 2,286 $55,986 $173,200 $1,110 8.7% 47
Milford 2,270 $59,053 $142,900 $933 3.5% 35
Farmingdale 2,264 $58,709 $192,500 $730 2.0% 46
South Paris 2,208 $42,321 $167,200 $549 2.8% 27
Bar Harbor 2,154 $46,917 $469,300 $925 10.6% 13
Thomaston 2,101 $54,155 $256,100 $887 2.3% 77
Madison 2,100 $39,695 $79,400 $986 1.9% 44
Steep Falls 2,087 $85,040 $229,300 $1,659 0.0% 17
Berwick 2,050 $63,199 $302,200 $1,041 5.0% 34
Falmouth Foreside 2,022 $190,476 $617,100 $2,672 2.8% 17
Veazie 1,869 $73,750 $263,400 $1,075 3.1% 35
Freeport 1,848 $76,012 $357,300 $1,573 10.7% 29
Richmond 1,835 $68,030 $200,000 $849 5.1% 19
Mexico 1,833 $35,093 $96,400 $765 2.2% 84
North Berwick 1,806 $50,579 $286,900 $1,055 0.7% 32
Livermore Falls 1,765 $44,864 $99,900 $809 3.9% 57
Dexter 1,745 $56,280 $125,500 $856 4.7% 29
Dunstan 1,722 $86,823 $445,500 $1,448 0.6% 17
Van Buren 1,682 $34,263 $92,200 $628 1.6% 23
Falmouth 1,620 $112,596 $635,400 $1,317 3.8% 21
Wilton 1,599 $42,143 $156,700 $555 11.1% 36
Fort Fairfield 1,566 $55,625 $150,800 $393 13.7% 31
Waldoboro 1,553 $54,345 $200,900 $333 4.0% 25
East Millinocket 1,541 $44,531 $69,100 $613 5.2% 25
Randolph 1,522 $48,654 $147,500 $870 5.6% 46
Bridgton 1,514 $56,475 $219,900 $912 8.4% 30
Dixfield 1,512 $52,208 $132,900 $706 1.9% 27
Fryeburg 1,503 $41,350 $238,400 $644 6.6% 25
Newport 1,485 $36,563 $158,800 $810 2.7% 30
Clinton 1,436 $71,934 $135,900 $1,036 0.0% 21
Milo 1,409 $51,528 $78,700 $654 2.1% 22
Machias 1,331 $25,278 $111,800 $661 8.6% 35
Kennebunkport 1,318 $113,456 $775,400 — 8.1% 16
West Kennebunk 1,269 $90,104 $437,800 $1,401 14.3% 33
Damariscotta 1,267 $53,571 $296,700 $943 7.6% 38
Eastport 1,211 $44,919 $120,300 $438 2.8% 21
Wiscasset 1,207 $102,792 $276,300 $1,200 3.3% 24
Woodland 1,173 $44,917 $71,600 $790 2.4% 21
Limestone 1,165 $36,023 $86,400 $597 2.4% 23
Howland 1,126 $45,313 $96,600 $760 10.0% 35
Cornish 1,115 $65,833 $178,100 $1,083 0.6% 33
Oxford 1,100 $75,065 $172,500 — 17.5% 75
Winterport 1,100 $44,205 $173,300 $638 0.0% 6
Norridgewock 1,099 $41,944 $178,800 $980 0.0% 44
Chisholm 1,074 $58,750 $114,100 $721 6.3% 26
Searsport 1,053 $59,679 $285,900 $875 13.9% 6
Kittery Point 1,017 $121,042 $441,000 $1,600 0.9% 33
Boothbay Harbor 982 $65,795 $318,600 $589 1.8% 19
Greenville 972 $53,068 $173,500 $663 4.8% 19
Mars Hill 954 $39,677 $127,700 $412 7.7% 23
Blue Hill 950 — $341,800 — 0.0% 24
Greene 950 $105,543 $225,500 $1,150 0.0% 54
Castine 923 $158,359 $615,200 — 2.3% 24
Little Falls 891 $123,611 $249,200 $2,190 0.0% 17
Bradley 884 $75,938 $161,100 $890 1.7% 35
Washburn 875 $35,000 $85,400 $442 8.0% 33
Alfred 850 $40,326 $321,900 $717 8.5% 33
Anson 837 — $75,200 $809 11.6% 44
South Windham 834 — — — 8.8% 17
Kezar Falls 791 $43,688 $194,700 $1,051 6.5% 33
Gray 786 — $207,500 $972 0.0% 17
Casco 771 — $193,900 — 0.5% 17
Bowdoinham 766 $88,590 $274,500 — 0.5% 19
Jonesport 723 $55,938 $139,300 $323 8.6% 21
Newcastle 680 — $402,400 $1,021 4.4% 26
Mapleton 671 $77,109 $151,700 $375 7.9% 23
Ashland 663 — $115,300 — 0.0% 23
Bingham 625 $41,618 $81,500 $684 10.1% 44
Sabattus 621 $59,519 $141,700 — 0.0% 9
Hartland 603 $49,521 $95,700 $856 2.6% 44
Kingfield 601 $46,750 $155,900 $595 3.6% 26
Rangeley 568 $48,026 $105,600 $631 1.5% 26
Bethel 561 $32,321 $247,500 $377 6.5% 27
Corinna 556 $46,786 $117,900 $769 13.9% 35
Turner 541 $73,333 $200,000 — 11.7% 54
Guilford 539 $41,518 $116,100 $463 4.6% 19
Southwest Harbor 526 $30,625 $436,200 $694 20.6% 24
Cousins Island 504 $168,571 $603,400 — 7.7% 17
Milbridge 481 — $121,500 $775 14.3% 21
Brownville Junction 476 $39,922 $78,700 $847 18.3% 19
Danforth 474 $39,091 $87,700 $561 15.2% 21
North Anson 462 $38,295 $145,200 — 5.4% 44
Naples 443 $58,969 — — 0.0% 17
Mattawamkeag 431 $38,750 $85,000 $345 16.4% 35
Oakfield 427 $39,500 $79,000 $431 3.7% 23
Northeast Harbor 398 $100,313 $561,600 $986 0.0% 24
Eagle Lake 383 $37,813 $105,000 $575 12.5% 23
Patten 380 $27,813 $46,700 $334 2.6% 35
Island Falls 342 $46,250 $81,700 — 12.9% 23
Winter Harbor 315 $57,917 $170,600 $927 0.0% 24
Lubec 297 $37,813 $200,000 $278 5.7% 21
Unity 291 $25,658 $157,900 $408 4.1% 6
Standish 282 $56,645 $348,100 $1,344 0.0% 17
Blaine 254 — $85,900 — 4.4% 23
Grand Isle 222 $32,500 $61,300 $486 22.8% 23
Vanceboro 154 $47,292 $100,000 — 3.1% 21
Littlejohn Island 58 $94,943 $446,600 — 0.0% 17

Frequently Asked Questions

Saco, ME ranks among the safest cities in Maine, with a crime index of 33 (100 = U.S. average, lower is safer). Crime data from the FBI UCR Program.
South Portland, ME has one of the highest median household incomes in Maine at $82,489 per year. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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