Who moves to Portland, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Cumberland County, ME, home of Portland, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 13,447from other US counties
- Moved out
- 13,191to other US counties
- Net
- +256more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 96tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| York County, ME | 1,879 |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 885 |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 481 |
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 455 |
| Kennebec County, ME | 417 |
| Oxford County, ME | 359 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 319 |
| Suffolk County, MA (Boston) | 271 |
| Essex County, MA (Lynn) | 169 |
| Lincoln County, ME | 167 |
| Rockingham County, NH | 156 |
| Kings County, NY | 156 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| York County, ME | 2,279 |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 1,433 |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 688 |
| Kennebec County, ME | 531 |
| Oxford County, ME | 479 |
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 271 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 242 |
| Suffolk County, MA (Boston) | 218 |
| Lincoln County, ME | 182 |
| Essex County, MA (Lynn) | 141 |
| Somerset County, ME | 139 |
| Kings County, NY | 118 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 5,114 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Maine and 8,333 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 455 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 319 |
| Suffolk County, MA (Boston) | 271 |
| Kings County, NY | 156 |
| Worcester County, MA (Worcester) | 137 |
| Norfolk County, MA (Quincy) | 127 |
| Aroostook County, ME | 116 |
| Hancock County, ME | 102 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 271 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 242 |
| Suffolk County, MA (Boston) | 218 |
| Somerset County, ME | 139 |
| Kings County, NY | 118 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 104 |
| Norfolk County, MA (Quincy) | 98 |
| Hancock County, ME | 96 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Portland come from?
Most people moving into Cumberland County, ME come from nearby counties, led by York County, ME (1,879 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Middlesex County, MA.
Where do people leaving Portland move to?
The top destination is York County, ME (2,279 people). Farther away, the most popular is Middlesex County, MA.
Are more people moving to Portland or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 13,447 people moved into Cumberland County, ME from elsewhere in the US and 13,191 moved out, a net gain of 256 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Portland with any city it trades people with, like Portland vs Cambridge, Portland vs Boston, Portland vs Worcester, Portland vs Quincy.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Portland.