State comparison
American Samoa vs Maine: which state is better to live in?
American Samoa costs a median household about $8,300 a year less in state and local taxes than Maine, mostly because its income tax takes 0.0% of a median income against 6.5% in Maine, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 110 against 107).
American Samoa
Low tax burden · COL index 110
Wins 3 categories
Maine
High tax burden · COL index 107
Wins 2 categories
Taxes: American Samoa vs Maine
American Samoa has a graduated income tax topping out at 30%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. Maine has a graduated income tax topping out at 7.15%, which works out to 6.5% on a median income of $74,580, or $4,813 a year. American Samoa wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.50% of home value a year in American Samoa and 1.04% in Maine (Tax Foundation, 2023), so American Samoa has the lower rate.
American Samoa has no sales tax; combined state and local sales tax averages 5.50% in Maine.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $1,517 a year in American Samoa, $9,787 in Maine. American Samoa is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
American Samoa's cost of living index is 110 and Maine's is 107, where 100 is the national average; Maine is about 3% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election American Samoa went to Harris by 15 points and Maine went to Harris by 6 points.
American Samoa has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of B; Maine has permitless carry and a grade of B-, so American Samoa regulates guns more tightly and Maine is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
3
American Samoa
2
Maine
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is American Samoa or Maine better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. American Samoa on taxes ($1,517 a year for a median household against $9,787); Maine on everyday costs (index 107 against 110).
Which is cheaper, American Samoa or Maine?
Maine is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 107 against 110. On state and local taxes American Samoa saves a median household about $8,300 a year.
Does American Samoa or Maine have lower taxes?
American Samoa. A household earning $74,580 pays about $1,517 a year in American Samoa ($0 income tax, $1,517 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax) and $9,787 in Maine ($4,813 income tax, $3,744 property tax on the median home and $1,231 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is American Samoa or Maine better for retirees?
American Samoa is friendlier to retirees on paper. American Samoa does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Maine does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an estate tax. Property tax on a median home is $1,517 a year in American Samoa and $3,744 in Maine.