Portland, Maine
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Portland.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Portland?
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 586.6).
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 · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 77°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Portland compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for 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 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $76,174Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · 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 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year30% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $452,600City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year49% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,487City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year10% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 2.5%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 20261.7 pts below U.S. avgU.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6851% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 242.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)59% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2580.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)16% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 77°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 18°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals16.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 48.1 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals46% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 234As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals13% below U.S. avgU.S. 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 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?
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?
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?
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 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 586.6 and 3087.9. 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?
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 Data Explorer, 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 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Cumberland County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014764 PORTLAND INTL JETPORT) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10