Best places to live in the Portland, Maine metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
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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.

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#25. West Kennebunk

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

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#24. Westbrook

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

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#23. Kennebunkport

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

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#22. Phippsburg

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

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#21. South Windham

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

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#20. Windham

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

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#19. Topsham

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

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#18. Saco

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

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#17. South Portland

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

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#16. Bath

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

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#15. Kennebunk

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

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#14. North Yarmouth

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

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#13. Gorham

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

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#12. West Bath

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

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#11. Woolwich

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

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#10. Brunswick

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

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#9. Scarborough

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

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#8. Portland

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

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#7. Yarmouth

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

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#6. Cumberland Center

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

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#5. Falmouth Foreside

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

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#4. Falmouth

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

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#3. Freeport

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

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#2. Cumberland

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

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#1. Cape Elizabeth

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

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