MEMaine rankings

Towns where rent is easiest to afford in Maine

Ranked by the share of renter households spending 30% or more of their income on rent, the federal "cost-burdened" line. 15 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

1 Biddeford 37.2% Median rent $1,292

2 Gorham Cumberland County 37.9% Median rent $1,680

3 Sanford 45.5% Median rent $1,152

#TownRenters paying 30%+Median rentRenter households

Biddeford22,498 people 37.2% $1,292 4,593

GorhamCumberland County · 18,300 people 37.9% $1,680 1,079

Sanford22,247 people 45.5% $1,152 2,661

Westbrook20,775 people 46.1% $1,392 3,493

Presque Isle8,736 people 47.3% $904 1,659

Augusta19,077 people 49.2% $919 4,158

7 Waterville17,077 people 50.5% $978 3,178

Portland68,854 people 51.3% $1,577 16,531

Bangor31,938 people 51.5% $1,055 7,517

Lewiston38,324 people 51.7% $986 7,471

Auburn24,602 people 53.4% $1,041 4,071

South Portland26,930 people 55.6% $1,812 4,870

BrunswickCumberland County · 22,336 people 56.4% $1,469 2,437

OronoPenobscot County · 11,902 people 58.1% $1,255 1,693

15 SkowheganSomerset County · 8,653 people 58.5% $875 1,336

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of renter households spending 30% or more of their income on rent, the federal "cost-burdened" line. Lower is better. Only towns with 1,000+ renter households are ranked, because smaller samples are too uncertain. The town with the lowest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for Maine as a whole is 48.4%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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