What to Expect When Moving to Portland, Maine: Neighborhoods, Costs and More

Portland, Maine at a Glance

The land of sailboats and kayaks and cross-country skis, L.L. Bean duck boots and Sebago docksides. Of starry skies and soft salt air, where the fog drifts out over Casco Bay. The land of Cliff Island and Chebeague Island and Scarborough Beach, of basking seals and sunning cormorants. Of lobster rolls and lobster rolls and even more lobster rolls. This is Portland, Maine. 

Just two hours from Boston but a world away from the stress of big-city life, Portland is catching more than just a passing glance of die-hard urbanites. Remote workers and those who have soured on exorbitantly expensive and cramped living conditions in the Northeast’s coastal giants have started to look at this smallish New England City with fresh eyes.  

Over the past decade, Portland has grown to a population of nearly 70,000 — making it the largest city in the Pine Tree State — and the metro area has over 560,000 residents. Charmed by neighborhoods like the downtown Arts District and the Old Port, surrounded by the picturesque waterfront, newcomers have also found a stable economy, more affordable and spacious housing, and access to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country. There are terrific restaurants and bars in Portland, along with museums, performance halls and even a minor league ice hockey team to keep you entertained when the weather isn’t so fine.   

So, if you are ready to trade in your long commute for lazy days on the lakes and the beach, Portland may be the city for you. Learn more below about this charming, coastal city in Maine, including popular neighborhoods and attractions, the Portland economy and job market and our tips for an easy move. 

Is It Expensive to Live in Portland? 

With temperatures on the rise everywhere, many people are thinking of moving north, but when it comes to coastal living in the Northeast, all things are not equal. Affordable housing is increasingly scarce in major cities on the East Coast, and tiny enclaves don’t always offer the cultural amenities that city-dwellers are after. As a modestly sized city in New England, Portland, Maine hits something of the sweet spot, which is why more and more people are setting their sights on this Goldilocks zone of the north Atlantic coast.  

Portland may be the largest city in Maine, but not even 70,000 people call it their year-round residence. Those that do, however, know that real estate prices here pale in comparison to places like Boston, New York City, and Newport, Rhode Island. At $411,600, the median home value in Portland may be more than $100,000 more than the national average, but you’ll get way more house for your dollar here than you will in nearby Boston, where the median has risen to $684,900, while New Yorkers are spending over $732,000, on average. Providence, Rhode Island, however, is far less expensive, and homes in the city average just $293,000.  

Renters in Portland will also have to budget more than their national counterparts every month, but they’ll spend less than their aforementioned neighbors down the coast. The median gross rent in Portland is $1,377 — several hundred less than in Beantown or the Big Apple.  

Other common household expenses generally cost more in the Northeast, so you’ll want to budget more for things like food, healthcare, personal insurance/pensions, and miscellaneous expenses. And, the money you’ll have to work with may be less than you’re accustomed to. Portland’s median household income is only $71,498 — below the U.S average of $75,149. 

How Is Portland’s Job Market?

The greater Portland area is enjoying incredibly low unemployment at the moment. City unemployment rates fell from 2.6% to 2.3% between June of 2023 and 2024, and rates were as low as 2.1% in nearby Windham.  

But across the city’s industry sectors, there was inconsistent fluctuation. Mining, logging and construction as well as other services shed more than 4% of their workforce, while education and health services; leisure and hospitality; and the government all expanded by 5% or more. All told, the metro area workforce grew by 1.4%, suggesting a stable job market.  

Education and health services is the Portland area’s largest single sector, followed by trade, transportation and utilities and professional and business services. And although the largest employers all operate within the healthcare arena — MaineHealth, Northern Light Mercy, Martins Point Healthcare and Unum — there are numerous companies with smaller footprints in diverse business divisions, including Portland’s historically strong manufacturing sector. One of the country’s best-loved brands — L. L. Bean — is located in nearby Freeport. For more than 100 years, this outfitter has been keeping Mainer’s feet warm and dry in their signature duck boots and entire families decked out in matching flannel.  

Let’s not forget that there are several notable colleges and universities in and around the Portland area, too — a boon to the city’s workforce and culture. The University of Southern Maine and the Maine College of Art & Design are located within the city proper, and Bates and Bowdoin are both less than an hour away. 

Where Do People Live in Portland and Why? 

First, if you are looking for info on the Pearl District or Nob Hill, you have reached the wrong side of the map — head west for about 46 hours, and you’ll hit the other Portland. Stumptown was named after us, remember! And, with good reason, too, because neighborhoods in Portland, Maine, have a lot to admire. 

Downtown Portland centers around the Arts District, just a few blocks from the bay. You’ll find a nice gallery scene here, as well as the Maine College of Art & Design, the Portland Art Museum and the Merrill Auditorium, where the Portland Symphony Orchestra plays. Head south and you’ll find yourself in the Old Port, where cobblestone streets and waterfront views beckon. This popular — and, yes, touristy — district is where you can eat the freshest catch around the wharf at places like Luke’s Lobster and the Portland Lobster Company, or you can catch a ferry to explore the neighboring islands in Casco Bay, like Chebeague and Diamond Cove.  

In Portland’s West End, Victorian splendor awaits. In this walkable, residential district just off the Fore River, stunning 19^th-century homes line the brick sidewalks and the gorgeous Western Promenade is ideal for a stroll any time of day. There are great spots to grab a bite, like Smalls, a lovely café where you can get a crusty baguette with butter and jam in the morning and a killer negroni after work or at 3 pm. You live at the beach now. We won’t tell. When you have visitors in town, you’ll want to take them to the Victoria House, a historic mansion on the corner of Danforth and Park. This brownstone house is as impressive as it is foreboding — with its ornate furnishings and intricate carpentry, it’s rather hard to imagine that it was originally built as a summer home for its occupants, but perhaps beachy is in the eye of the beholder. The Portland Ballet puts on a great performance of the Nutcracker here in early December.  

Portland’s East End is its beachy side, and though most New England beaches are rocky, you’ll find a pleasant sandy spot here to dip your toes in the waters of the bay. The East End Promenade is one of the city’s best public parks, and the trail that wraps around the 78-acre greenspace fills up with morning joggers looking for a run with a view. In the summer, you can plant your own veggies in the community garden here, and this park will be the spot your children drag you to for sledding every time it snows. Housing in the East End is expensive, and most of the market is condo-based. You’ll find spacious units in brand-new buildings, tiny ones in converted, historic homes and multi-family triplexes in nifty old clapboards.    

Where Do Locals Go for Fun and Recreation?

People move to Portland for a lot of reasons — the stable job market, the charming neighborhoods, their lack of fear of Maine winters — but it’s the everyday amenities that set this city apart from bigger cities down the East Coast. No matter where you go in the Pine Tree State, one of the biggest draws will always be the outdoors.  

Great parks like the East End Promenade and the East End Beach give you only a glimpse of the wonders of this region. A short trip down the coast will take you to Cape Elizabeth, where you’ll find the oldest lighthouse in Maine, the Portland Head Light, located within Fort Williams Park. Tour the historic structures at the park, like the Battery Keyes, or stroll around the children’s garden.  

For dinner, drive down to the tip of the cape and treat yourself to Maine’s signature dishes at The Lobster Shack at Two Lights. Lobster rolls and haddock boats, fish burgers and clam chowder are just a few of the favorites at this popular restaurant established in 1920. Other great beaches await around the bend — Scarborough Beach State Park and Crescent Beach State Park are perfect points to launch your sea kayak, go fishing or birdwatching or, in the wintertime, try out cross-country skiing on the trails.  

You can, of course, take in the spoils of nature from the comfort of the shore. When you want a panoramic view of Casco Bay but want to be out of the bracing winds and water, pay a visit to the Portland Observatory in the East End. Perched nearly 90 feet over the city, you can see ships and islands for mile after mile. Nearby, you’ll find dozens of Portland’s famous breweries, like Lone Pine, Rising Tide, and Orange Bike Brewing Company — the state’s first entirely gluten-free brewery. All the suds are made with water from Maine’s Sebago Lake, from the English Special Ale to the Helles Lager.   

In the summer, one of the best things you can do as a family is learning to sail. SailMaine, a community sailing organization, can teach kids as young as five how to have fun out on the water, and parents can take a course on their own. Everyone will sleep well after a few hours out on the waves, dreaming of tying bowline and clove hitch knots.  

When the kids are looking for something to do in the winter and have already built a snow fort and snow family, and are too young to shovel snow, take them to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine on Thompson’s Point in Libbytown. In addition to hands-on, interactive exhibits, this super-fun venue hosts events just for kids, like the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival. 

Next door you’ll find one of Portland’s oddest attractions — the International Cryptozoology Museum. This institute of the imaginary, this foundation of fabled beasts, this museum of the mythological will delight believers with “actual hair samples” from Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman and other yetis of lore. Even skeptics, though, will dig the museum store, where you can pick up memorabilia like a sasquatch puppet and a Pine Ape State sticker.   

Portland, Maine may not scream pro sports to most people, but if you need to be a part of a regional rivalry, the Maine Mariners will satisfy your desire for flying pucks and body slams. You can watch this ECHL team slice up the ice at the Cross Insurance Arena, where the intrepid seamen take on the Swamp Rabbits, the Solar Bears and the Thunder.  

Tips to Relocate to Portland

Find a Trustworthy Mover 

Working with a professional, long-distance moving company like Mayflower can make all the difference in a cross-country move. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been the nation’s most-trusted mover, helping families just like yours move to cities across the U.S. If you want your move to be a smooth and seamless experience, follow these tips on how to hire a good mover. 

Get a moving quote now for Portland, Maine. 

Consider Moving Full Service 

We know that moving can feel overwhelming, which is why we offer full-service moving packages. Mayflower’s long-distance movers are licensed for interstate moves, and you’ll have access to our nationwide network of professionals to make your cross-country journey a breeze. See what a customized moving package could look like for your family. We can include services like storage, packing, unpacking, car shipping, debris removal and more. 

Even if you’re moving within Portland or from another part of Maine, we’re here to help you. Mayflower’s interstate Maine movers can help you with local moves under their businesses and brands.  

Get Moving Tips and Resources From the Pros 

Why do it alone? Even if you’re moving solo, you can still use Mayflower’s moving checklist and planner to help keep yourself on track. Our pros have all the tips you need to settle into your new home city. And, if you’re still not settled on which city that may be, that’s okay! Research places you’re interested in moving to on our blog, where you’ll find state guides and city guides to popular places to live in the U.S. 

Before you tape up that first box, start planning for other parts of the move, like talking to your kids about what they can expect in their new digs. You’ll find all the help you need in Welcome HOME magazine, our exclusive digital guide to moving. 

Get a quote on moving to Portland, Maine.