Scarborough 80 Exceptional
Scarborough Livability #11 ranked city in Maine#1,415 ranked city in the USARanks better than 95% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Scarborough

PROS
  • Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

  • Schools

    The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Cost Of Living

    This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.

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What's it like Living in Scarborough?

Scarborough, Maine is a smaller city with a population of 5,268 residents. According to the most recent Census, 85% of Scarborough residents are White, 10% Asian and 4% Black. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Scarborough. With an average one way commute time of only 20 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Scarborough can be a great experience for anyone relocating to the area. Having said that, in the state of Maine, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, cost of living, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Scarborough and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Scarborough to Maine and the national average.

With a livability score of 81 out of 100, Scarborough is ranked #1,139 in the United States and #9 in Maine. Based on this score, Scarborough would be considered a very livable city! Scarborough is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. If we check out each of the categories individually, we see that Scarborough ranks well for crime (A+), education (B+) and employment (A+). There is at least one category that did not score well in Scarborough. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: amenities (F) and cost of living (F).

Low violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, assault) provide a safer environment for residents, reducing the risk of personal harm, property theft or violence. Low crime can also lead to increased property values and desirability. With 65 crimes per 100,000 residents, Scarborough has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Scarborough has an unemployment rate of 0.46% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

Assuming that Scarborough meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Scarborough. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Scarborough are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Scarborough come in at $288,100, which is 63.7% higher than the Maine average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Scarborough, the home price to income ratio is 4.3, which is 22.9% higher than the Maine average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Scarborough

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Compare Scarborough, ME Livability

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      Scarborough transportation information

      Statistic Scarborough Maine National
      Average one way commute20min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.8%78.2%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.6%10.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.7%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.4%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%4.0%2.8%
      Working from home5.6%5.5%4.6%
      Source: The Scarborough, ME data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).