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Portland, ME

Population: 66,649

70

Key findings

Portland has a Livability Score of 70_/100, which is considered average
Portland crime rates are 107% higher than the Maine average
Cost of living in Portland is 10% higher than the Maine average
Portland real estate prices are 41% higher than the Maine average
Rental prices in Portland are 23% higher than the Maine average

Best Places to Live in and Around Portland

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Compare Portland, ME Livability

What do the locals think about Portland?

63%Family friendly 25%Public transit is accessible 50%Walkable to grocery stores 25%Yards are well-kept 25%Lots of parks 88%Walkable to restaurants 63%Friendly neighbors 50%Safe at night 38%Pet friendly 75%Streets have sidewalks 25%A quiet area 50%Sense of community

Based on 8 votes from AreaVibes users. See all Portland poll results.

Portland Real estate & Rental prices

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Portland Demographics

Population66,649 Median Age35.8 Have Kids (under 18)42%

See more Portland demographic data

Top Rated Schools in Portland

Name	Grades	Students	Proficiency
Baxter Academy For Tech & Sciences	9 - 11	220	60%
Harrison Lyseth Elementary School	PK - 5	499	59%
Peaks Island School	KG - 5	52	50%
King Middle School	6 - 8	502	50%
Longfellow School-portland	KG - 5	340	50%
Ocean Avenue	KG - 5	421	46%
Lincoln Middle School	6 - 8	488	45%
Fred P Hall School	KG - 5	421	45%

See all Portland schools

The best places in Maine

Here are the best places to live in Maine

These are the 10 most affordable cities in Maine

See the best places to live in & around Portland

Top 10 best public schools in Portland

Portland Reviews

Write a review about Portland Tell people what you like or don't like about Portland…

Review Portland

If you have an animal ethic, don’t come here!

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Attractions1/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining1/10

Shopping1/10

I joined this site for the sole purpose of writing this one review. We walked for an hour before finding the one non-juice vegan option in town (@Portland Regency Hotel & Spa-vegan “pulled pork”-not a fan of the name-how about “imitation shredded pig flesh” uuggg). In that time we walk by two poor overheated horses tugging lazy bastards around a cobblestone road. How cruel and lazy a place is this?! ZERO for a vegan. Vegans like the ocean...vegans like ships...vegans like shops...but Portland Doesn’t like vegans. I am so disgusted with how many thousands of lobsters are boiled to death and how many crustaceans are steamed to death. we agree with “Don’t come here”! We were only passing through but will still never come here again.

1 -35

Horrible place to rent

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Attractions7/10

Community5/10

Nightlife5/10

Dining5/10

Shopping/10

Portland could be one of the most incredibly amazing places on the East coast, but unfortunately the rental market makes it a miserable place to live. Lets start out with the positives. Casco bay is just gorgeous and the folks out in the hinterland are are a splendid lot, living what appears at times a storybook life. Where else in the world can you put money into a jar, for say some veggies, and rest assured that the rightful owner will enjoy the bounty for a summer's hard work? Portland is a great place to enjoy awesome local Kombucha, brew, spirits and treats. The restaurants are good, but lets face it, a quick trip down to Providence would set one straight with reality. We are responsible omnivores that do not advise vegetarians to base their move on the food scene. Overall, come on up if you are independently wealthy and can afford to buy shelter.My experience as a renter has been the worst in my life since I moved to Portland. Perhaps a run of bad luck, but I don't think so. My first experience was with a massive rental management company whose name I fear to mention. The apartment that I was forced to stay in, or lose a year of rent, had a wretched sewer smell emanating from the basement. The day I called it in, I could hear workers splashing in (I'm assuming) sewage. After explaining the situation to the rental company, I was asked if it was a surfer smell. Yes, the day I moved in the empty apartment smelled like the most amazing asian food (could they have actually piped spicy smell into the apartment to mask the smell -still a mystery to me). If you don't mind being treated like a college freshman without a cosigner, by all means rent from Porland's #1 juggernaut rental management company. My second experience was with an individual. Suffice it to say that at least one Portland landlord is intolerant of pregnant people. OK, I'm not talking about crying babies, but pregnant people. If you don't mind camping for a month in your 3rd trimester, do some homework about any potential landlords in Portland. Please do yourself a favor and watch the rental market for at least 6 months before making a decision to move here. Rental costs can increase $100 per year based on market prices, whatever that means. The last time I checked, the ability to find meaningful work that pays a living wage needed to be factored into the market value of shelter. I was raised to believe that rental property was an equity builder not a job. Not the case her - beware. One last thing - educate yourself on the economic term "consumer surplus." Cheers and safe traveling

5 -1

This page is very inaccurate. I live in Portland.

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Attractions5/10

Community10/10

Nightlife8/10

Dining8/10

Shopping6/10

These statistics are horribly wrong. It's so shameful. I may need to find the time to come back to add more accurate links. I will say that if you move here you will fall in love. I hate the winters but it is too hard to leave because there are so many good things here that I would be leaving that too. There is no place like it. (Believe me. I've searched for a version of this Portland with milder winters for a long time now.) Everyone is proud of our city. I find that number 1 reason people leave here is because of the snow. 2nd reason, their job is asking them to relocate somewhere. 3rd the cost of housing. There is a lot of help for very low income but for people that don't fit in that bracket it's a bit pricey. The minimum wage for our city was raised very recently to help combat that. The raise was only for Portland and not the rest of the state but it's still rough for people like me. It's worth it though. That's why there are so many people packed into under 22 sq. miles of land. Supposedly, in 2016, 40% of the state population lives in Portland which means it's only a short drive to get away from the city and into nature. We have more trees than any other state and no poisonous snakes or other creatures. No mountain lions or grizzly bears. The woods are safe! The water and air are clean. It is awesome. I would write more but I need to go!

5 -3

Portland is the best place to life

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Attractions10/10

Community10/10

Nightlife10/10

Dining10/10

Shopping10/10

Portland is nice place for the family for kids to grow nice people .I was living in Portland Maine .I have alot of good Memory and I learn good think from Maine .My father Professor Dr Mohammad Hassan Muti past away on Nov 4 2008 in Portland Maine at age 74 .good bless him .and thanks for President Barak Obama and first Lady mitchelle Obama for their kind Condoless letter for Professor Muti ,Governer Johan Baldacci and congressman Tom allan Senator Olympia Snow all american friends for their condoless Letters during our Hard time Farid Muti United State of America,Thanks for the us governament and american friend help our family in the united State

2 -2

Have a Nice Time in Portland, Maine

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Attractions7/10

Community10/10

Nightlife7/10

Dining7/10

Shopping7/10

Some cities are fast paced, others are laid back. Portland, Maine is a beautiful laid back city. Just because it is laid back doesn't mean it's not an exciting place to visit, it is. The old port area is a must if you make the trip to Portland. I had a great time in the area and enjoyed a great seafood meal. If you don't know, Portland is known for having some of the best seafood.

A trip to the city of Portland wouldn't be complete without getting out and taking in the great view of the ocean. The views of the Atlantic Ocean are great in Portland and it seemed like I was taken back to a simpler time. I found the whole experience to be quite relaxing.

The people in Portland are very friendly and have no problem recommending their favorite restaurants or pointing you in the right direction when you are lost. I was lost on several occasions and the people were more than happy to help me out. I also caught a show at the Merrill theater and would recommend that to anybody considering a visit to the great city of Portland, Maine.

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Source: The Portland, ME data and statistics displayed above are derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Portland, ME

Key findings

Best Places to Live in and Around Portland

Compare Portland, ME Livability

What do the locals think about Portland?

How Do You Rate The Livability In Portland?

Portland Real estate & Rental prices

Portland Demographics

Top Rated Schools in Portland

The best places in Maine

Portland Reviews