Maine Area Profiles
4 published city profiles across Maine, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.
Statewide signals
OpportunityTop 50% of 51 states53
GrowthTop 26% of 51 states62
Housing affordabilityTop 44% of 51 states88
Climate47th of 51 states49
Physical resilienceTop 14% of 51 states82
Access27th of 51 states70
Economic stability37th of 51 states35
Cities
4 published profiles across 3 areasPortland-South Portland, ME
2 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | Cumberland County | 68,854 | 71 |
| South Portland | Cumberland County | 26,930 | 68 |
Strongest opportunity
- South Portland 77
- Portland 77
- Bangor 76
- Lewiston 59
Fastest development
- Portland 79
- Bangor 54
- Lewiston 43
- South Portland 42
Statewide physical risk
Ice stormHigh
HurricaneElevated
LightningModerate
EarthquakeModerate
LandslideModerate
DroughtModerate
Coastal floodingModerate
Heat waveModerate
Low or minimal exposure: winter weather, inland flooding, cold wave, strong wind, hail, wildfire, tornado, avalanche.
Population-weighted across every county in Maine, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.
Statewide data
| Metric | Value | Compared with peers | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average household size ±0.01 | 2.26 | Bottom 2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Households ±2,532 | 597,159 | Bottom 22% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age ±0.1 | 44.8 | Top 2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population | 1,387,817 | Bottom 18% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 45/sq mi | Bottom 24% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Home price to income | 3.97 | Top 47% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | Top 2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units ±671 | 751,876 | Bottom 22% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent ±$13 | $1,139 | Bottom 41% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value ±$2,876 | $296,600 | Bottom 49% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Rent as a share of income | 18.3% | Bottom 31% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacancy rate | 20.6% | Top 2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income ±$795 | $74,733 | Bottom 37% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income ±$403 | $43,742 | Top 39% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | Bottom 35% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | Bottom 43% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | Top 33% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Employment | 688,551 | Bottom 20% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (3 years) | -1.0% | Bottom 36% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | Bottom 22% | July 2026 |
| Labor force | 709,595 | Bottom 20% | July 2026 |
| Labor force participation | 61.7% | Bottom 25% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment change (year over year) | 0.0% | Top 28% | July 2026 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | Bottom 14% | July 2026 |