Maineincome tax up to 7.15%, 19th highest property tax, median home $360K

D+6 · High tax burden · COL index 107

C+

7.15%

Income Tax

109

Violent Crime / 100K

77.8

Life Expectancy

$360K

Median Home

$1,350

Childcare / Mo

Maine in plain English

Worth knowing before you move to Maine

Maine has the oldest population of any state, a graduated income tax that reaches 7.15% at moderate incomes, and an estate tax with a $7 million exemption. It does not tax Social Security and exempts a portion of pension income. Coastal property from Portland to Bar Harbor carries prices closer to Massachusetts than to the inland counties, where homes remain inexpensive.

What Maine taxes, and what it doesn't

Maine levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 7.15%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 6.5%, about $4,898 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 6.8%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Maine has the 3rd highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.

Property tax runs 1.04% of home value a year, roughly $3,744 on the state's median home of $360K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Maine has the 19th highest rate of the 50 states.

Combined state and local sales tax averages 5.50%, the 9th lowest in the country (the state portion is 5.5%).

For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is partly exempt, and an estate tax applies above $6.8 million.

Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.

Housing and the cost of living in Maine

Maine's cost of living index is 107, where 100 is the national average; that is the 15th most expensive of the 50 states.

The median home costs $360K, 19% above the national figure and the 21st highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,500 a month.

Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $900 a year, flood coverage adds about $600 where it is needed, car insurance runs $980.

Budget $175 a month for electricity and gas, $560 a month in groceries for two, $1,350 a month for full-time infant care.

Safety, health and schools

Violent crime is 109 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Maine is the safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,187 per 100,000.

Life expectancy is 77.8 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 6.9% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Maine's health system 7th of 50.

Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 14th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.

Politics, guns and social policy

Politically, Maine is a competitive state that went to Harris by 6 points in 2024.

On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws B-.

Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Maine is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $14.15 an hour.

Climate, risk and getting around

Natural disaster risk is low. The main hazards are blizzard, flood. Annual average air quality index is 26 (under 50 is good).

Maine has no top-25 hub airport, with about 35 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.

Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.

Largest counties in Maine

Cumberland County York County Penobscot County Kennebec County Androscoggin County Aroostook County Oxford County Hancock County Somerset County Knox County All Maine counties →

Ranked lists

State Profile

75/100

Maine will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Maine changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

▾

Income Tax

7.15% top

Property Tax

~$3,744/yr on median home

1.04% / yr

Sales Tax

5.5% avg

Social Security

Exempt

Pension / IRA

SS exempt; up to $10K pension deduction

Partial

Estate Tax

Yes — $6.8M exemption

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Taxed as income

Housing & Cost of Living

Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)

▾

Price Level vs US (BEA)

Near US average (100)

97.0

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

0.9%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

107

Median Home Price

$360,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,500/mo

Home Insurance

Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$900/yr

Flood Insurance

$600/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

$47,500

Asset Protection

Moderate

Homes in HOAs

HOAs are rare here (Census ACS 2024)

8.0%

Zoning Restrictiveness

Among the least restrictive zoning (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Permissive

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

No statewide STR license; state study affirmed local regulation; lodging taxes apply.

Local Control

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

▾

Violent Crime Rate

Well below national avg (~380)

109 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Below national avg (~2,100)

1,187 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

11.2 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)

213 / 100K

Homeless Population

Moderate homelessness rate — 10% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

192 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

▾

State Healthcare Rank

Top tier

#7 of 50

Life Expectancy

77.8 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

6.9%

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

▾

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

59%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$36,238/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

#14 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Available

HS Graduation Rate

Near national avg (~87%)

89.6%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Below national avg (~16)

11.8 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

▾

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

▾

Grid Carbon Intensity

Cleaner than US average (~820)

337 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$175/mo

Electricity Rate

Near national avg (13¢)

16.8¢/kWh

Energy Mix

⚡ 65% renewable · ☀ 3% solar · 💨 21% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$560/mo

Road Quality Rank

#24 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

▾

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

35+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

▾

Urban Population

Mostly rural

38% urban

Restaurant Density

440/100K

Religious Congregations

165/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

None

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

2 venues

Craft Breweries

7.3/100K residents — Top tier

100 breweries

Craft Distilleries

35 distilleries

Live Music

Portland craft beer destination; Allagash, Maine Beer Company; 7.3 breweries per 100K (top 5 nationally)

Decent

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

▾

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

Below national avg

$980

Traffic Fatality Rate

11.2 / 100K

Broadband Access

84% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

82,678 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

▾

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

34.9%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

55.8%

Abortion Access

Legal to viability; strong state protections

Protected

LGBTQ+ Protections

Comprehensive

Marijuana

Recreational

Minimum Wage

$14.15/hr

Right to Work

Sports Betting

Legal

Casino Gambling

Commercial casinos

Online Gambling

Illegal

State Lottery

2 commercial casinos. Sports betting launched 2022.

Yes

Age of Consent

Sex Education

Sex ed required by state

Comprehensive

Medically Accurate Required

Yes

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

Maine Naturists — organized beach trips · remote lake swimming

One club

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

▾

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Excellent (national avg ~38)

Natural Disaster Risk

Low

Primary Hazards

blizzardflood

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

▾

2024 Presidential Vote

D+6

Gun Laws

Gun ControlB-

2A LibertyC+

Carry Permit

No permit required

Purchase Permit Required

Carry in Bars

Allowed

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

Concealed allowed unless posted; open carry prohibited in alcohol venues.

Allowed

Gambling

Legal

Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

▾

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Near US average (~4.5%)

5.0%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

1.9%

Job Market

+1% job growth · 3% unemployment

Moderate

Top Industries

HealthcareTourismFishing

Tech Jobs

#43 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#6 of 50

Remote Work

18% of workers

Median Household Income

$73,445

Union Membership

Above-average union presence (BLS 2025)

11.9% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

▾

Corporate Income Tax

High corporate rate — plan entity structure carefully

8.93%

LLC Formation Fee

$175 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

$85/yr

Business Climate Rank

#28 of 50

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

▾

Gas Price (Regular)

Near avg (+0.02 vs national avg)

$3.32/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks legal; some town restrictions

Legal

Motorcycle Helmet Law

Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)

Age-Limited

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

▾

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 27°F

Harsh

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

79°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

44" / yr

Tornado Risk

Very Low

Hurricane Risk

Low

Wildfire Risk

Low

Flood Risk

Low

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

▾

21LOW danger

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)Moose collision risk on highwaysBlizzard wintersLyme disease zone

Venomous Snakes

Minimal

Spider Hazard

Minimal

Hurricane Risk

Moderate

Tornado Risk

Minimal

Wildfire Risk

Low

Earthquake Risk

Low

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

▾

Veteran-Friendly Score

8.1% of state population are veterans

77/100

Property Tax Exemption

Veteran property tax exemption

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Tax Exempt

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

Military retirement fully exempt

Explore Maine counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in Maine

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

Calculate

Compare Similar States

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Maine vs Colorado

COL 107 vs 110 · 7.15% vs 4.4% income tax

Full comparison →

ME vs OR

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COL 107 vs 110 · 7.15% vs 9.9% income tax

Full comparison →

ME vs VT

Maine vs Vermont

COL 107 vs 111 · 7.15% vs 8.75% income tax

Full comparison →

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Maine vs Delaware

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What Residents Say

Planning life : r/AskMaine

income taxes in Maine are extraordinarily high , higher than ÇA!). After paying $0 in state income taxes for years, I last year paid $16K in ......

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Highly considering moving to southern Maine : r/AskMaine

high taxes, Maine taxes everything, food, income, fuel, property. if you need it, they tax it and no matter how much they get its never enough....

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Moving to Maine

People moving here are killing this state. Taxes are going up. People from here can't afford to live where they grew up. prices are just going ......

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Been in central Maine my whole life

The cost of living in Maine is so ridiculous you can live in most cities for the same price or less. I moved from central Maine to Mass...

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Questions about visiting, moving to, or living in Maine

cheap land and relaxed restrictions (zoning, permits, taxes) youll find homesteaders. there is no town/city ruling over you, low taxes and no ......

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moving BACK to new england advice wanted...

It's a high cost of living area now and lack of housing inventory, along with high utilities, even as a renter without property taxes....

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bring in vs. keep : r/Maine

As far as cost of living maine it costs more then half the US. maine tries to attact people by forgiving student loans if you live in the state ......

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Questions about visiting, moving to, or living in Maine

the time you added the taxes, fees, long distance service, etc, it added over $100/month to the cost)....

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How much money do you need to live in Maine?

Check out this article on the new LetsmovetoMaine.com news site about the salary needed to live in Maine. Just search Maine in the search bar!...

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Where your taxes are going in Maine

... costs". $11k, oh the humanity. Meanwhile the GOP ... MEGATHREAD: Questions about Moving to, Living in, or Visiting the Great State of Maine....

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Maine will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Maine changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.