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Living in
Portland.
About
Life in Portland
Living in Portland means settling into a mid-sized coastal city with real economic momentum—it's Maine's financial and cultural center, home to major bank headquarters and a growing tech scene. The job market is strong with 2.9% unemployment, and most commutes stay under 20 minutes, which is a genuine quality-of-life perk. The catch is housing: median rents hit $1,577 and median home values are around $489,600, reflecting years of gentrification that's been reshaping the city since the early 2000s.
Portland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
11.8%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
+2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.8% foreign-born, most often from Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
Who lives in Portland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Portland, the largest foreign-born group is from Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) (11.2%), and 3.4% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
15.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.5%
of households
Married Couples
33.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.03
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 38% above ME average
Rent, home values, and income in Portland
In Portland, rent runs 38% above the ME average, and home values are 65% above the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,601
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1946
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $554,454 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below ME average
Unemployment in Portland
Unemployment in Portland is 0.5 percentage points lower than the ME average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Portland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.4 min avg
How Portland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Portland, most residents drive alone to work (54%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Portland International Jetport (PWM)
Small hub1.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 97 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Portland runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
244.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,935.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Portland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cumberland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cumberland County, which includes Portland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Winter Storm | $84,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20.5M |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | $554,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Winter Storm | $10.4M |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Winter Storm | $67,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $60,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $1.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cumberland County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cumberland County, which includes Portland, is typically good — 271 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
271
per year
Moderate Days
89
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cumberland County, county-wide
Climate77°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Portland has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Annual Snowfall
68.7"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 3.50" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 42°F | 26°F | 4.08" |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 4.41" |
| May | 64°F | 46°F | 3.67" |
| Jun | 74°F | 55°F | 4.15" |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 3.43" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.57" |
| Sep | 71°F | 52°F | 3.77" |
| Oct | 60°F | 41°F | 5.25" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 4.25" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 4.50" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Portland
Portland has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Northern Light Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Northern Light Mercy Hospital · 144 State Street
- Hospital campus: Northern Light Mercy Hospital · 195 Fore River Pkwy, Portland
- Outpatient center: Mercy Quick Care · 385 Route 1, Yarmouth
- Outpatient center: Mercy Westbrook · 40 Park Rd, Westbrook
- Hospital campus: Northern Light Mercy Hospital · 175 Fore River Pkwy, Portland
Mainehealth Maine Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Mainehealth Maine Medical Center · 22 Bramhall St
- Hospital campus: Maine Medical Center · 887 Congress St, Portland
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mainehealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor
Psychiatric · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Westbrook
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education11.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Portland
Portland's student/teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 59.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Portland
Public · 4-year · 4,222 students · in-state tuition $12,630 · 53% graduate · median earnings $57,989 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 415 students · in-state tuition $44,358 · 52% graduate · median earnings $38,062 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Southern Maine Community College
3.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 5,675 students · in-state tuition $4,156 · 28% graduate · median earnings $48,636 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Frances Perkins National Monument, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Portland
Portland has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Frances Perkins National Monument (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
39 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
90 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
100 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
100 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Portland
Cliff Island Library
119 Sunset Road, Cliff Island
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square, Portland
Portland - Burbank Branch Library
377 Stevens Avenue, Portland
Portland - Peaks Island Branch Library
129 Island Avenue, Peaks Island
Portland - Riverton Branch Library
1600 Forest Avenue, Portland
Cities Near Portland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Portland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Portland FAQ
Is Portland, Maine affordable?⌄
Portland's median rent is $1,577/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $79,540/year. Median home value is $489,600.
Is Portland, Maine safe?⌄
Portland's violent crime rate was 245 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1936 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Portland, Maine?⌄
Portland has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Portland, Maine?⌄
The cost of living in Portland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,577/month and median household income is $79,540/year. The median home value is $489,600. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Portland, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Portland is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from