Best places to live in the Portland, Maine metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
RossHelen // Shutterstock

Best places to live in the Portland, Maine metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Portland, Maine metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

1 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#25. West Kennebunk

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 1,367

2 / 25
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

#24. Westbrook

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: C-
- Population: 20,484

3 / 25
F8 studio // Shutterstock

#23. Kennebunkport

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 3,666

4 / 25
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#22. Phippsburg

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 1,987

5 / 25
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#21. South Windham

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 1,047

6 / 25
oneinchpunch // Shutterstock

#20. Windham

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 18,967

7 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#19. Topsham

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 9,644

8 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Saco

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 20,636

9 / 25
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#17. South Portland

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: C+
- Population: 26,780

10 / 25
Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#16. Bath

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 8,801

11 / 25
imtmphoto // Shutterstock

#15. Kennebunk

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 11,692

12 / 25
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

#14. North Yarmouth

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 4,173

13 / 25
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock

#13. Gorham

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 18,192

14 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#12. West Bath

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 2,165

15 / 25
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#11. Woolwich

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 3,135

16 / 25
BAZA Production // Shutterstock

#10. Brunswick

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 22,081

17 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Scarborough

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 22,747

18 / 25
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#8. Portland

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 68,505

19 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#7. Yarmouth

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 9,006

20 / 25
Akarawut // Shutterstock

#6. Cumberland Center

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 2,811

21 / 25
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#5. Falmouth Foreside

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 2,148

22 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#4. Falmouth

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 12,631

23 / 25
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#3. Freeport

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 8,736

24 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#2. Cumberland

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 8,546

25 / 25
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock

#1. Cape Elizabeth

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 9,547

Trending Now