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Moving Guides/Portland-South Portland

Moving to Portland-South Portland

What you need to know before relocating to Portland-South Portland, Maine. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Portland-South Portland a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Portland-South Portland compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include median household income ($92,117) exceeds the national median; low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market; violent crime rate (102/100k) is well below the national average.

Portland-South Portland at a Glance

Population
566K
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Median Home Price
$444,600
Unemployment
2.2%
Avg Commute
251263 min

Cost of Living in Portland-South Portland

The median rent in Portland-South Portland is $1,551/month, while the median home value is $444,600. With a median household income of $92,117, residents spend roughly 20% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Portland-South Portland metro area is classified as average compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
11% above
Home Price vs. National Avg
46% above

Job Market

Portland-South Portland has a median household income of $92,117, which is 24% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Portland-South Portland

The violent crime rate in Portland-South Portland is 102 per 100,000 residents, which is 73% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1121 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Maine

Maine has a high school graduation rate of 95% and per-pupil spending of $19,310/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1.

35% of Maine adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Maine has 331 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.1% uninsured rate, and 2.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Maine is 78.2 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Portland-South Portland

+Pros

  • Median household income ($92,117) exceeds the national median
  • Low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market
  • Violent crime rate (102/100k) is well below the national average
  • High school graduation rate of 95%
  • Low uninsured rate (5.1%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Home prices ($444,600) are above the US median
  • Longer-than-average commute (251263 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portland-South Portland a good place to live?

Portland-South Portland, Maine has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including median household income ($92,117) exceeds the national median and low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Portland-South Portland?

The median rent in Portland-South Portland is $1,551/month and the median home value is $444,600. The median household income is $92,117. Overall the metro is considered average.

Is Portland-South Portland safe?

Portland-South Portland has a violent crime rate of 102 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Portland-South Portland?

Portland-South Portland has an unemployment rate of 2.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $92,117.

Explore More About Portland-South Portland