Living in Portland, ME
Portland is home to about 70,000 people in 2025. It has grown 2.2% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (101.9 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 69,911+2.2% since 2020
- Median home value
- $489,6006.2 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,577/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $79,540median, per year
- Price level
- 101.9US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 32° / 80°lows 16° / 61°
- Average commute
- 19 min25% work from home
- State income tax
- 7.15%top rate, graduated
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County: Cumberland County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 62 ft
Metro area: Portland-South Portland, ME
Cost of living in Portland
The median home in Portland is worth $489,600 and the median household earns $79,540 a year, so a typical home costs about 6.2 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,577 a month, about 24% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area at 101.9, with housing at 105.2 and goods at 97.2 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $76,400 here. Maine taxes wages at a top rate of 7.15%. The average combined state and local sales tax in Maine is 5.5%.
What would my salary be worth in Portland?
Portland weather
Average highs run from 32°F in January to 80°F in July, and January nights average 16°F. It gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 69 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 144 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to September.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Portland
People and work
The median resident is 37.8 years old, and 60% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 47% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 19 minutes; 25% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 37.8358th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 60%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 47%of households
- People per sq mile
- 3,24621.5 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 3%11% walk, 1.3% bike
- Unemployment
- 4.2%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 11.2%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1946median year
Who moves to Portland, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Cambridge (Middlesex County), Penobscot County, ME and Boston (Suffolk County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Cambridge (Middlesex County), Penobscot County, ME and Boston (Suffolk County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
FEMA rating for Cumberland County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: winter weather, ice storm, lightning.
Home prices
+4.5% in a year
Up 56% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Portland-South Portland, ME area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
74% good days
6 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Portland-South Portland, ME area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Portland
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Bowdoin College 22 miles
- Bates College 31 miles
- Southern Maine Community College 2 miles
- Unity Environmental University 17 miles
- University of Southern Maine in Portland
- Central Maine Community College 33 miles
- University of New England 15 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Portland
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland International Jetport Airport PWM | 3 mi | 1,221,913 |
| Portsmouth International Airport at Pease PSM | 49 mi | 100,298 |
| Manchester-Boston Regional Airport MHT | 78 mi | 633,257 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Portland
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Environmental University | 17 mi | 6,483 | $20,750 | 20% |
| Southern Maine Community College | 2 mi | 5,675 | $11,277 | 23% |
| University of Southern Maine | in town | 4,222 | $14,927 | 43% |
| University of New England | 15 mi | 2,135 | $38,617 | 62% |
| Bowdoin College | 22 mi | 1,873 | $15,595 | 93% |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 16 mi | 964 | $29,029 | 56% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Portland
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 26, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 4 and the first frost comes around October 15.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Portland Intl. Jetport, ME, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Portland.
Wildfire smoke in Portland
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Portland on about 97 days a year, including about 23 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Portland
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 32,965 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Portland
Downtown Portland is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | Pre-K to 12 | 6,555 | 17 | 10.8 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Regional School Unit 14 (3,051 students), Scarborough (2,865 students), Gorham (2,833 students), South Portland (2,816 students), Westbrook (2,348 students), School Administrative District 51 (2,236 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Portland's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Portland's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Ann Arbor, MI74% matchCompare
- Ithaca, NY73% matchCompare
- Troy, MI71% matchCompare
- Rochester Hills, MI70% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Portland
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Portland
- Lost Valley Ski Area 33 miles
- Pleasant Mountain Ski Area 39 miles
- Powderhouse Hill 40 miles
- King Pine 44 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Portland
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Commutes are short: 19 minutes each way on average.
- Data A highly educated city: 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.
- Data Low natural hazard risk: FEMA rates Cumberland County relatively low overall.
Cons
- Data Winters are snowy: about 69 inches a year.
Portland report card from locals
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Cities near Portland
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NH | 76 mi | 116,818 | $365,600 | 105.7 | Compare |
| Lawrence, MA | 80 mi | 89,320 | $415,200 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Nashua, NH | 87 mi | 92,435 | $403,900 | 105.7 | Compare |
| Lowell, MA | 89 mi | 119,971 | $429,200 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Lynn, MA | 90 mi | 104,236 | $510,100 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Somerville, MA | 98 mi | 84,211 | $911,300 | 108.3 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Portland with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Portland a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show short commutes; the trade-offs are expensive homes relative to local incomes, heavy snow. Compare Portland side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Portland?
The Census Bureau estimates Portland had 69,911 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 68,406 in April 2020 (+2.2%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Portland?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $76,400 in the Portland area. The median household here earns $79,540.
When is the best time to visit Portland?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to September are the most comfortable months. July averages 80°F and January 32°F for daytime highs.
What county is Portland in?
Portland is in Cumberland County, Maine. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Portland in?
Portland is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Portland?
About 62 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Maine have a state income tax?
Yes. Maine has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 7.15% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Portland. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Portland Intl. Jetport, ME station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.