Kentucky
Moderate tax burden · COL index 85
Wins 8 categories
Maine
High tax burden · COL index 107
Wins 5 categories
Maine's top income tax rate is 7.15% vs Kentucky's 4%. Cost of living in Maine (index 107) runs 26% higher than Kentucky (index 85). The median home in Maine costs $360K vs $215K in Kentucky. Politically, Kentucky voted Republican in 2024 (R+26.0) while Maine went Democratic (D+6.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
8
Kentucky
5
Maine
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Are more people moving to Maine or leaving?
Maine ranked highest in New England and seventh nationally in net migration last year. International migration slowed in Maine in 2025 and across much of the United States. But domestic migration made up for the decline, with about 7,400 people moving to Maine from other states last year.
What are the pros and cons of living in Kentucky?
What is the downfall of living in Maine?
That said, Maine isn't for everyone. Winters are long and harsh, job opportunities can be limited outside of certain industries like healthcare, education, and tourism, and access to amenities may be sparse in rural areas.
What is the nicest part of Kentucky to live in?