There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Maine. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobs — as in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Maine cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Maine. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 20 of the state’s most populous areas over 2,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Maine.
The Mainer in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
$79,540 median income · $557,760 median home · #4 income in Maine
Located in
Cumberland County, Maine
Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with a population of 66,937 as of 2016. This makes it the fourth least populous city in the U.S. to be the most populous in its state. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, more than one-third of Maine’s total population. The Old Port district is frequented by tourists, while Portland Head Light is also a destination. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, which is a reference to the recoveries from four devastating fires. Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland, Oregon, was in turn named after Portland, Maine.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$92,241 median income · $520,612 median home · #1 income in Maine
Located in
York County, Maine
Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems, a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics. Saco sees much tourism during summer months, due to its amusement parks, Ferry Beach State Park, and proximity to Old Orchard Beach.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$86,838 median income · $517,132 median home · #2 income in Maine
Located in
Cumberland County, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state, incorporated in 1898. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of Portland and the islands of Casco Bay. Due to South Portland’s close proximity to air, marine, rail, and highway transportation options, the city has become a center for retail and industry in the region.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$85,038 median income · $449,009 median home · #3 income in Maine
Located in
Cumberland County, Maine
Westbrook is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and a suburb of Portland. The population was 17,494 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$68,398 median income · $368,971 median home · #9 income in Maine
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$69,390 median income · $365,662 median home · #8 income in Maine
Located in
Sagadahoc County, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census, and 8,357 as of 2013, the population has had a change of -10.2% since 2000. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County, which includes one city and 10 towns. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its 19th-century architecture. It is home to the Bath Iron Works and Heritage Days Festival, held annually on the Fourth of July weekend. It is commonly known as “The City of Ships.” Bath is part of the metropolitan statistical area of Greater Portland.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$72,333 median income · $505,512 median home · #6 income in Maine
Located in
York County, Maine
Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census. Twin city of Saco, Biddeford includes the resort community of Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks and Granite Point. The town is the site of the University of New England and the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$77,375 median income · $346,769 median home · #5 income in Maine
Located in
Hancock County, Maine
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine’s fastest growing city from 2000-2010, with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent. With historic buildings and other points of interest, Ellsworth is popular with tourists.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$67,679 median income · $380,697 median home · #10 income in Maine
Located in
Waldo County, Maine
Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River estuary on Penobscot Bay, Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County. The seaport has a wealth of antique architecture in several historic districts, and remains popular with tourists.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$56,533 median income · $340,484 median home · #15 income in Maine
Located in
Knox County, Maine
Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,297. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is a popular tourist destination. It is a departure point for the Maine State Ferry Service to the islands of Penobscot Bay: Vinalhaven, North Haven and Matinicus.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Maine’s statewide median.
Maine statewide median: $74,733
Maine statewide median: $407,566
On the map
Where the snobs live in Maine
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Pine Tree State
Do you think we’d just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Maine with populations of 2,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 20 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, it’s not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 20 places in each category with scores from one to 20. We then averaged each place’s ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Maine. So let’s all flip a table in honor of Portland (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, let’s remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
The full plate
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Maine For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Snob Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | 2.00 | 68,854 | $79,540 | $557,760 | 60.0% |
| 2 | Saco | 2.33 | 20,819 | $92,241 | $520,612 | 44.0% |
| 3 | South Portland | 2.67 | 26,930 | $86,838 | $517,132 | 52.0% |
| 4 | Westbrook | 5.00 | 20,775 | $85,038 | $449,009 | 41.0% |
| 5 | Hallowell | 6.00 | 2,592 | $68,398 | $368,971 | 53.0% |
| 6 | Bath | 7.00 | 8,815 | $69,390 | $365,662 | 43.0% |
| 7 | Biddeford | 7.33 | 22,498 | $72,333 | $505,512 | 32.0% |
| 8 | Ellsworth | 7.33 | 8,657 | $77,375 | $346,769 | 40.0% |
| 9 | Belfast | 7.33 | 6,986 | $67,679 | $380,697 | 42.0% |
| 10 | Rockland | 11.33 | 7,035 | $56,533 | $340,484 | 35.0% |
| 11 | Brewer | 11.50 | 9,652 | $66,613 | $297,006 | 34.0% |
| 12 | Gardiner | 11.67 | 6,088 | $71,782 | $284,200 | 30.0% |
| 13 | Auburn | 13.00 | 24,602 | $66,647 | $321,213 | 28.0% |
| 14 | Bangor | 13.17 | 31,938 | $59,942 | $281,560 | 34.0% |
| 15 | Waterville | 16.33 | 17,077 | $53,580 | $243,116 | 30.0% |
| 16 | Lewiston | 16.67 | 38,324 | $55,393 | $296,288 | 23.0% |
| 17 | Augusta | 17.00 | 19,077 | $47,979 | $273,948 | 29.0% |
| 18 | Calais | 17.17 | 3,097 | $64,096 | $153,921 | 26.0% |
| 19 | Presque Isle | 17.50 | 8,736 | $55,768 | $171,303 | 26.0% |
| 20 | Caribou | 17.67 | 7,382 | $53,709 | $156,306 | 29.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, Zillow research. 20 places with more than 2,000 residents.
Summary
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Maine are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Maine are Portland, Saco, South Portland, Westbrook, Hallowell, Bath, Biddeford, Ellsworth, Belfast, and Rockland. Not sold on Maine? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
