A Snapshot of Portland
Charming clapboards climbing with wild roses. Foghorns blowing across Casco Bay. Misty docks and boat houses laden with buoys, where the salt air drifts in languidly over the noisy gulls and cormorants. This is Portland, Maine.
With all these enviable treasures, this small New England city has made a big name for itself, topping the U.S. News & World Report list of the best places to live on the East Coast. Crime is low and happiness levels are high in Portland, where winters can be biting but summers are bliss, and the oceans and coves are picturesque 365 days a year.
It seems no matter where you look in the city, from the historic Old Port to the bustling Arts District, there’s always something exciting going on. While fishing, hiking and, of course, sailing keep Portland residents happy out of doors, the city’s museums, theatres, boutiques and historic sites provide endless cultural appeal. Not to mention the restaurants. Many people have moved to Maine for reasons less worthy than the lobster roll.
While the cost of living in Portland, Maine is high compared to the average U.S. city, residents of Maine’s largest metro will pay far less than those living in coastal giants like Boston or New York. And the diverse job market has kept unemployment numbers at bay even as sea levels are rising.
If you are looking for a small, coastal city in New England and are prepared to brave frigid winters and summer tourists, Portland may be the place for you. Learn more below about the cost of living, the job market, transportation options and fun things to do in this beautiful city in Maine.
Understanding Cost of Living in Portland
Like many cities on the East Coast, the cost of living in Portland, Maine is higher than elsewhere in the nation. But, if you have your heart set on coastal New England, Portland does have an edge on other cities, big and small.
Although the median home value in Portland is more than $410,000, Portland’s modest size means that finding a single-family home on a budget is possible. Median prices in Boston, New York, and Newport, Rhode Island, start in the low $600s, and those may not come with the thing families want most in Maine — land. Prices in Providence, Rhode Island, are more reasonable than Portland, but income levels are lower there and poverty rates are significantly higher. If you’re looking to rent, estimate paying around $1,400/mo. for an average place in Portland.
One of the things you’re paying for in Portland, of course, is the coast. You’ll find real estate is far less expensive in inland cities like Bangor and Lewiston, where median home prices don’t even hit the $200,000 mark.
Other common household expenses are generally more expensive in the northeast than they are in other regions, including food, healthcare, personal insurance/pensions and miscellaneous expenses. Expect prices on certain goods and services to fluctuate between the high and low seasons, too.
Navigating Portland’s Job Market
Over the past six months, Portland has maintained an admirably low unemployment rate, averaging 2.3% in the city, where the population is just 69,104, and in the greater Portland area, which has 566,329 residents. But job numbers themselves were a mixed bag.
Mining, logging and construction, which employs 11,000 Portland residents, contracted by 4.3% between June of 2023 and 2024. Other services, such as manufacturing; financial activities; and trade, transportation and utilities also suffered losses, giving up 1,800 jobs among them.
But other sectors grew robustly. Education and health services expanded by 6.9%, leisure and hospitality increased by 5%, and the number of individuals employed by the government grew 5.1%. This growth resulted in an estimated gain of 6,600 over the last 12 months.
Education and health services is by far the largest industry in Portland, with trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality following close behind. So, it’s no surprise that the single biggest employer in Portland is MaineHealth, which is also the largest employer in the state of Maine. Unum, Northern Light Mercy and Martins Point Healthcare also have a significant footprint. Wex, a commercial payment processing provider is headquartered in Portland, as is Covetrus, Idexx (in the suburb of Westport) and, of course, L.L. Bean in nearby Freeport.
Transportation Tips in Portland
With the state’s largest airport, it’s getting easier and easier to get to and from Portland, Maine. Eight airlines now serve the Portland International Jetport, which offers direct flights to more than a dozen major cities around the U.S.
If you’re travelling within the region, Amtrak offers daily service between Brunswick and Boston on their Downeaster Train, which stops in Portland and nine other destinations near the Atlantic coast.
Within this walkable city itself, you’ll find it’s easy enough to get around on foot or bicycle, if you’re so inclined. The state was named the second-most bike-friendly in the country by the League of American Bicyclists, and several trail systems make it fun to spend the day exploring on two wheels. Use the Eastern Promenade Trail to explore the coast within the city or hop on the East Coast Greenway Trail to pedal your way all the way to Key West.
If you have some distance to travel but want to avoid using your car, the Greater Portland Metro bus services are easy to use, and the system offers local and express services through Metro BREEZ. Casco Bay Lines will take you to popular islands like Chebeague and Peaks by ferry.
Unique Experiences in Portland
Sailing and hiking, stargazing and sea glass hunting, Portland is a nature-lover’s paradise. But Portland’s indoor game is almost as great as its outdoor one. Here are our recommendations for some of the best things to do in Portland, Maine.
If you’re looking for a day of sun and surf in the city, head to Portland’s East End, where you’ll find a sand beach on the waters of Casco Bay. Book a kayak tour to paddle around the Calendar Islands, where you’re likely to meet a few seals, some eider ducks and a lot of cormorants along the way. Old Orchard Beach is a short drive down the coast in Saco, and its classic amusement park rides and arcade really draws crowds during the high season. If you’re looking more for serenity than spun sugar and whizzing entertainment, Scarborough State Park is a beautiful escape. A season pass costs $155 and gives you access to five state parks in the region, some with early entry privileges.
Back on shore, you can explore the area on foot or bicycle along the Eastern Promenade, one of many parks around the city. Stellar views from the two-mile trail around the bay are the best enticement for a morning jog, and the park is a perfect site for picnics. Who’s up for lobster rolls on the beach?
High above the rooflines of the charming clapboard houses, you’ll spy the distinctive dome of the Portland Observatory. Unlike a lighthouse, this historic signal station wasn’t built to guide ships but to give merchants a heads up that their boat was coming to port. The invention of the two-way radio proved to be its demise, but the beautiful structure — now the only one of its kind — was thankfully rescued by the city, and everyone can enjoy the panoramic views of Portland and the Atlantic coastline.
The Observatory is just one of the important historic sites in the city. In the summer months, you can visit the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, where poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived as a young man. Forts abound in this fought-over territory, from the imposing Civil War stronghold Fort Gorges, which encompasses an entire island, to Battery Steele in the Peaks Island Land Preserve, built to repel a German naval attack.
This New England city definitely has a creative side, too. The Portland Arts District is just a few minutes from the ocean and encompasses more than a dozen gallery spaces along with the Maine College of Art & Design (MECA) and the Portland Museum of Art, which houses a stellar collection of paintings by Winslow Homer, among many other treasures.
Little ones will beg you to take them to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, located on Thompson’s Point in the Libbytown neighborhood. This new building overlooks the Fore River on three sides, and their learning and play spaces take children indoors and out to build their minds, muscles and imaginations.
Okay, okay, but where should you eat? Well, there are so many good places in Portland, it’s really hard to go wrong. If you’re looking for a seafood on the water kind of place, head to the Old Port, where you’ll find one of our favorites, Scales. This upscale eatery is the master of rustic elegance. You can get a whole Maine lobster with drawn butter or opt for more unusual flavors, like the grilled branzino with saffron chili butter and fennel. Be sure to get an order of their smoked bluefish pâté for the table and something from the raw bar.
Gilbert’s Chowder House has made a name for itself not just for New England’s favorite soup, clam chowder, but for haddock chowder, corn & chicken chowder, seafood chili and even lobster stew. This no-frills favorite is where to get the best fried Maine clams and a fresh crab roll. You can’t survive on lobster rolls alone, you know — we tried.
Twelve is the place to go for a splurge, and their pris fixe menu gets you a sampling of their seasonal best. This summer’s swordfish with lobster sabayon was particularly memorable, as was the yogurt cake with currants and Earl Grey ice cream.
Though it’s Portland, Oregon that has the reputation for breweries, America’s original Portland knows how to handle its hops. Rising Tide, Lone Pine, and Bissell Brothers serve some of the finest suds in the city. We’re particularly fond of Oxbow’s Nightfall, a dark lager worthy of its own constellation in the Maine sky, but this taproom has a particular depth in the farmhouse and sour ale department. The barrel-aged Liquid Swords will pique your interest and your palette, but there’s no more oceanic brew here than the Saison Aquatic — a farmhouse ale made with kelp. Surely a favorite among lobsters and Steve Zissou.
Choosing the Right Moving Company for Your Relocation to Portland
If Portland, Maine is calling you, call on United Van Lines to make your cross-country move a seamless experience. We have moved millions of families to cities across the U.S. in the last decade, and our dedicated, professional team is ready to help you move from anywhere in the country.
Get a moving quote for Portland, ME.
Choosing to work with a professional, long-distance mover can save your family time and hassle. As America’s #1 Mover®, we can offer you unparalleled services, including full-service moving packages or customized moving options, all tailored to your needs. Let our movers handle your packing, unpacking, storage, debris removal and car shipping.
Want a preview of the moving process? Check out our step-by-step guide to moving long-distance.
United Van Lines can also assist you with local moves. Our interstate Portland movers and Maine movers provide local moving services independently under their own brands and business names.
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Wonder what life in the Pine Tree state is like? Read our Moving Guide to Maine for an insider’s look at this New England charmer. Still considering moving to other regions? United Van Lines has moving guides to popular cities and states around the U.S.
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