2023 Best Places to Live in Maine

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Former Resident: Loved living there. Quiet family friendly neighborhood close to everything. Walking distance to bars and restaurants and only a short Uber ride to the old port.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 3,202

• Suburb in Maine

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  25 reviews

Current Resident: Magical and engaging place just outside of Portland. We have been part of the fabric of this town for almost twenty years and while we live in Boston, this place feels like home. The demographics of the Portland area have certainly changed in the last twenty years and Cape Elizabeth is no different in this regard. While the town is on the affluent spectrum, it is highly tolerant and accepting of all. Definitely worth the visit to experience the buzz.... Read 25 reviews

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• Population 9,448

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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• Population 7,081

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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• Population 1,854

• Suburb in Maine

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Nice walking trails, pretty views, good restaurants, kind people, great for raising a family, quiet neighborhoods.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 1,811

Current Resident: I love that Hampden has a small-town feel, but with plenty of local options for dining and activities. The proximity to Bangor and the University of Maine means there are always events nearby. My neighborhood feels safe and friendly!... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 7,638

• Town in Maine

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Former Resident: Camden is a nice town, everyone knows everyone. The scenery is amazing whether it is spring or winter, no matter the year it's beautiful. Even though it is a small town, they still have shops, places for food, some clothing, restaurants mostly based off of sea food since it's on the water, plus many more.... Read 8 reviews

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• Population 5,175

• Town in Maine

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  149 reviews

Former Resident: A great city with growing numbers and lots of attractions to explore. There are great schools with lots of food options to eat and lots to enjoy. Plenary of parks and recreation areas throughout the city. Many different styles and locations of foods within the city’s old port and downtown areas. The north side of the city is home to many people and children who have multiple schools to choose from starting with daycares to elementary to high school. In fact you can go From kindergarten to college graduation on stevens ave alone.... Read 149 reviews

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• Population 68,063

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: We moved here from the East End a year ago and we love it! Great neighborhood, safe, walkable to everything, with a number of historic houses, apartments and multi-families. Deering Street is beautiful. The YMCA has great classes, pool, and gym, and the Farmers Market at Deering Oaks Park is awesome. Hannaford's Supermarket is a 20-ish-minute walk or short bike ride. Fantastic place to live.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 3,177

Current Resident: I grew up in Orono so this is a little biased, but it's quiet and full of walking trails so people can get outside and enjoy nature. The biking situation is a little unfortunate, since it's a simple town in Maine we generally only have the basic two lane roads with minimal room to bike on, but I believe that's getting better. It's close to Bangor which is a big enough city for your basic needs, though nothing extremely exciting happens. The schools are great, safety is great, prices are a little elevated because it's a college town, but overall it's a 4/5 if you're into the small town setting.... Read 58 reviews

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• Population 11,481

• Town in Maine

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  14 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Bar Harbor on and off for the last seven years. It’s a wonderful town nestled right next to Acadia National Park. It has a rich history and there are many activities to enjoy during late spring to early fall and the scenery is a sight to behold. Nature certainly is in one of its finest forms in Bar Harbor. There are some downsides to living in Bar Harbor. During the “tourist season” the town is packed to the brim with people from all over the world. It’s a great place to meet new people, but it’s overwhelming to have so many people in such a small town for months on end. Another downside is the difficultly to find affordable housing here in Bar Harbor. There are not many properties to buy or rent from and all of them are outrageously expensive. Shared living spaces are quite common in Bar Harbor. Also, once all of the tourists leave, most businesses in town close until the return of warm weather leaving few options for eating out or nightlife.... Read 14 reviews

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• Population 5,098

• Suburb in Maine

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: When I first moved here, everyone was so welcoming and friendly. This was the second time I was moving within a 6 month time span, and everyone at school and in my neighborhood made the whole process a lot better. This town is beautiful and holds very welcoming and caring people. I am extremely glad I had the chance to grow up in a town like Falmouth.... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 12,316

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  5 reviews

Niche User: Portland is a great small city on Casco Bay. There is a great atmosphere with plenty of shops and restaurants. Beaches are close by too.... Read 5 reviews

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• Population 6,590

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: Though it has only been roughly nine moths of living in this area I have had no issues myself and have not seen or heard any sort of disturbance as well as little activity from police.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 4,778

• Suburb in Maine

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  14 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Cumberland is nice. I wish there was more diversity, plus the urban planning throughout the town is very poor. Purely residential, minimal businesses.... Read 14 reviews

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• Population 8,332

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

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• Population 4,237

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Niche User: Portland, ME is a great area for all ages, but I'd say possibly the best for 20-30 year olds. There are countless numbers of groups and organizations to join ranging from community health to art and music. The music scene is incredible and only getting better. Less than 15 minutes away you can find hiking trails and all sorts of ocean activities such as surfing and kayaking. Having a dog in this city has been a wonderful experience for me. There are many parks that allow dogs and beaches as well. I live in the heart of the city and my university is less than 2 miles away which is a quick bike or a scenic walk depending on preference. The bus system is also very convenient and reliable. Having not been crazy about the idea of living in the city to begin with, my attitude has totally changed since living here for a year. It feels more like a small town with endless activities than an actual city. I love exploring the outdoors and Portland has allowed for me to do that and much more. I have to say I love it here.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 4,586

• Town in Maine

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: For small-town New England living, Brunswick is hard to beat. The charming downtown core has been been carefully preserved, with big box stores kept out on the edges of town or across the river in Topsham. Even though it's a small town, it has a full-time police and fire plus Midcoast Hospital with a 24-hour emergency room, so you don't find the need to leave town for many things. Recent construction projects mean three of the four schools are very new. The beauty of life here is the relaxed, slower pace with easy access to all that Maine has to offer. Portland (and the jetport) are only 30 minutes away, four state parks are less than an hour away and Midcoast Maine towns (Boothbay, Camden, etc.) are easy day trips. Like the rest of Maine, it's an incredibly low-crime area. The only real negative is the length of winter, so it's important to get involved in winter sports like skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, etc. so you don't spend all winter inside cussing the weather.... Read 50 reviews

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• Population 21,589

• Town in Maine

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: Hidden coastal gem of the Midcoast, between Rockland (increasingly known for arts scene, cultural events) and Camden (long-time tourism hot spot, for mountains overlooking the sea and active harbor). Rockport has a beautiful and quiet, a little sleepy, village and harbor, ringed by great walking and several trails (owned by land trusts). Part of well-regarded Camden-Rockport regional school district, and home to the Camden-Rockport regional elementary and middle schools which play a big part in community life. Lots of small business owners in all sectors, including building/construction, marine industry, stone work, etc. Also home to PenBay Regional Medical Center and Hospital, and Samoset Resort. Real estate has been booming recently, I think due to natural beauty, nature access, quality of life, schools, and the joys of small-town living like seeing people you know at the grocery store, transfer station, outdoor music, etc.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 3,615

Current Resident: I love Veazie and the sense of community it has. The school has very good programs including one about forensics which is very unique. The town is very beautiful and has easy access to the outdoors with multiple trails and easy access to the river. The only issues are with the roads as in a couple of spots the roads don't have sidewalks which could be dangerous and the main intersections crosswalk lights are sometimes broken. Other than that, a great town to live in.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 1,771

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 3.52 out of 5  23 reviews

Niche User: Its clean, quiet family neighborhood, with plenty of green spaces, schools and shops on the main road. It's definitely one of the more charming neighborhoods of the city, the state and even New England. The density and volume of traffic are low compared to proximity to downtown, and Victorian-era homes line the streets.... Read 23 reviews

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• Population 4,956

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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• Population 1,211

• Suburb in Maine

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  Rating 4 out of 5  20 reviews

Niche User: Great place, everyone is friendly and the land is beautiful, is in the middle of everything, like 20 minutes to the mountains 10 to the ocean.... Read 20 reviews

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• Population 8,622

• Suburb in Maine

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  Rating 4.44 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Very cozy, welcoming town. Weather is not the best but that goes for all of New England. Cute small town center with lots of food options!... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 8,903

• Neighborhood in Portland, ME

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  7 reviews

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• Population 1,499