20 have matched ACS place data.
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State index
Maine state guide
Compare large Maine cities by 2025 Census population, young-grad fit, BLS state unemployment, schooling access, cost pressure, commute, and safety-check notes. The current Maine subset includes 20 Northeast city pages with a combined 2025 population estimate of 389,536.
What the current Maine catalog shows
Auburn, Maine has the strongest verified population-growth signal in this Maine subset at +5.70% since the 2020 estimates base. Ellsworth, Maine has the lowest ACS rent-to-income baseline among the matched catalog cities at 15.8%. These figures describe the WhereToLive.us city subset, not a statewide average.
Median of matched city ACS gross-rent estimates; not a statewide rent.
Median of matched city ACS household-income estimates; not a statewide income.
Median of matched city ACS owner-occupied home values.
Ellsworth, Maine leads this subset at 78/100.
Median of matched city approximate ACS commute estimates.
| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, Maine | State starter | 71/100 | $1,577 | $79,540 | 69,911 | 4.2% | +2.20% | strong | rent stretched |
| Lewiston, Maine | Maine coverage | 69/100 | $986 | $55,393 | 38,866 | 4.8% | +4.68% | strong | rent watch |
| Bangor, Maine | Maine coverage | 71/100 | $1,055 | $59,942 | 32,518 | 4.1% | +2.42% | strong | rent watch |
| South Portland, Maine | Maine coverage | 71/100 | $1,812 | $86,838 | 27,007 | 2.6% | +1.92% | strong | rent stretched |
| Auburn, Maine | Maine coverage | 70/100 | $1,041 | $66,647 | 25,441 | 7.0% | +5.70% | strong | rent watch |
| Sanford, Maine | Maine coverage | 67/100 | $1,152 | $72,524 | 22,663 | 3.7% | +3.19% | strong | rent watch |
| Biddeford, Maine | Maine coverage | 66/100 | $1,292 | $72,333 | 22,399 | 3.1% | -0.73% | strong | rent watch |
| Westbrook, Maine | Maine coverage | 76/100 | $1,392 | $85,038 | 21,565 | 2.2% | +5.67% | strong | rent watch |
| Saco, Maine | Maine coverage | 75/100 | $1,249 | $92,241 | 21,159 | 2.1% | +3.82% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Augusta, Maine | Maine coverage | 66/100 | $919 | $47,979 | 19,155 | 5.7% | +1.28% | strong | rent watch |
| Waterville, Maine | 2025 population #2152 | 75/100 | $978 | $53,580 | 17,579 | 5.5% | +5.43% | strong | rent watch |
| Brewer, Maine | 2025 population #3293 | 68/100 | $1,086 | $66,613 | 9,636 | 1.4% | -0.46% | strong | rent watch |
| Ellsworth, Maine | 2025 population #3501 | 78/100 | $1,017 | $77,375 | 8,862 | 2.8% | +5.56% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Bath, Maine | 2025 population #3507 | 69/100 | $1,044 | $69,390 | 8,835 | 5.8% | +0.67% | strong | rent watch |
| Presque Isle, Maine | 2025 population #3544 | 64/100 | $904 | $55,768 | 8,694 | 3.6% | -1.02% | strong | rent watch |
| Old Town, Maine | 2025 population #3872 | 67/100 | $989 | $51,585 | 7,589 | 1.8% | +2.09% | strong | rent watch |
| Caribou, Maine | 2025 population #3967 | 69/100 | $757 | $53,709 | 7,321 | 3.4% | -0.97% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Rockland, Maine | 2025 population #4024 | 68/100 | $1,092 | $56,533 | 7,142 | 6.6% | +2.84% | strong | rent stretched |
| Belfast, Maine | 2025 population #4075 | 71/100 | $962 | $67,679 | 6,988 | 0.6% | +0.56% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Gardiner, Maine | 2025 population #4344 | 71/100 | $1,113 | $71,782 | 6,206 | 7.5% | +4.11% | strong | rent watch |