Portland, Maine
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Portland, ME.
This profile is Portland, ME. Looking for Portland, OR?
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Portland, ME?
Portland, ME has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 130 (above the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $452,600 and median rent about $1,487, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $76,174. Typical commute is 20 minutes; summer highs average 77°F. Violent-offense rates run about 242.3 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 130U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $452,600U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,487U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $76,174U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 2.5%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 242.3per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 77°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Portland compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 69,568City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $76,174Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 130ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year30% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $452,600City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year49% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,487City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year10% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 2.5%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20261.7 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6851% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 242.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)57% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2580.6per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)14% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 77°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 18°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals17.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 48.1 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals45% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 234As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals13% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Portland grew 5.3% from 66,088 in 2010 to 69,568 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Portland, ME expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Portland's housing cost index is 130 versus 100 nationally — above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($452,600 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,487 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 130 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $452,600 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,487 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Portland, ME?
Typical ownership costs center near $452,600, while median gross rent is about $1,487 a month. Against a median household income of $76,174, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $452,600
- Median rent $1,487/month
- Median household income $76,174
What is the job market like in Portland, ME?
County unemployment recently ran 2.5% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Portland is about $76,174 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 2.5% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $76,174
How long is the typical commute in Portland, ME?
Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, with Walk Score near 68/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 20 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 68/100
Is Portland, ME safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 242.3 per 100k and property about 2580.6 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 242.3 per 100k
- Property 2580.6 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Portland, ME?
Normals show summer highs near 77°F, winter lows near 18°F, about 48.1 inches of rain, and roughly 234 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 77°F
- Winter low 18°F
- 48.1 in rain · 234 sunny days
Portland (pop. 69,568) sits in Maine. Median household income is roughly $76,174, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 130 — above the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $452,600 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Portland is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Portland with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Cold Atlantic winters and a tourism-heavy coast shape seasonal employment. Winter lows around 18°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Plan on roughly 20 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 68. A recent county unemployment reading near 2.5% suggests a relatively tight local labor market. Violent-offense rates around 242.3 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Portland city, 1600000US2360545) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Cumberland County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014764 PORTLAND INTL JETPORT) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19