If you’ve just wrapped up your career and are looking for the perfect place to retire in the Pine Tree State, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the best places for retirement in Maine to help make your choice.
Maine is the second safest state in America, so you won’t have to worry about crime in your golden years.
Then there’s the natural beauty. If swimming in emerald mountain springs by day and camping out near moose-frequented lakes sound like your cup of tea, then Maine’s Acadia National Park is sure to be a constant summer favorite in your retirement. And if, after tackling all your career goals, you need a new challenge, hiking Baxter State Park’s Mt. Katahdin is sure to boost your sense of accomplishment.
Where is the best place to start enjoying lighthouses, lobsters, and blueberry pancakes in your retirement years? Take a look below to find out.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maine For 2025
Maine has a lot going on for retirees, and the cities you see above are the best of the best when it comes to planning your retirement.
What city is the best for retirement in Maine? According to the data, Bath is the best place to retire in Maine for 2025.
How’d we come up with this list? We narrowed our search down to the 27 cities in Maine with a population of at least 5,000. Then we used Saturday Night Science to compare at data from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights. Finally, we ranked each city to according to crime, affordability, median age, weather, and access to things to do.
Many of the cities on this list are located close to Portland.
Look below to see a complete list of how Maine’s cities fared.
Why did Bath take the top spot? And where are Portland and Lewiston?
For more Maine state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Maine
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maine
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maine For 2025
/10
Population: 8,801
Median Income: $65,565
Median Home Price: $285,400
Median Rent: $967
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Bath: Data
/10
Population: 6,985
Median Income: $61,322
Median Home Price: $307,700
Median Rent: $986
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Belfast: Data
/10
Population: 10,699
Median Income: $56,890
Median Home Price: $219,200
Median Rent: $1,150
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Orono: Data
/10
Population: 9,150
Median Income: $65,842
Median Home Price: $317,800
Median Rent: $1,120
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Old Orchard Beach: Data
/10
Population: 8,550
Median Income: $70,990
Median Home Price: $214,500
Median Rent: $955
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Ellsworth: Data
/10
Population: 8,736
Median Income: $57,396
Median Home Price: $142,400
Median Rent: $875
Distance to Closest Airport: 40 miles
More on Presque Isle: Data
/10
Population: 6,008
Median Income: $93,167
Median Home Price: $429,600
Median Rent: $1,411
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Kennebunk: Data
/10
Population: 6,991
Median Income: $55,276
Median Home Price: $234,400
Median Rent: $986
Distance to Closest Airport: 49 miles
More on Rockland: Data
/10
Population: 6,293
Median Income: $92,311
Median Home Price: $506,300
Median Rent: $1,694
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Yarmouth: Data
/10
Population: 6,047
Median Income: $58,152
Median Home Price: $198,100
Median Rent: $927
Distance to Closest Airport: 45 miles
More on Gardiner: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Pine Tree State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Maine to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Pine Tree State — 132 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 5,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 27 places from across the state.
For these 27, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 27, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Bath, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Maine.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Maine Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Maine goes to Bath.
The best places to retire in Maine are Bath, Belfast, Orono, Old Orchard Beach, Ellsworth, Presque Isle, Kennebunk, Rockland, Yarmouth, and Gardiner.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Waterville
- Biddeford
- Auburn
For more Maine reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Maine
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bath | 8,801 | $65,565 | $285,400 | $967 |
| 2 | Belfast | 6,985 | $61,322 | $307,700 | $986 |
| 3 | Orono | 10,699 | $56,890 | $219,200 | $1,150 |
| 4 | Old Orchard Beach | 9,150 | $65,842 | $317,800 | $1,120 |
| 5 | Ellsworth | 8,550 | $70,990 | $214,500 | $955 |
| 6 | Presque Isle | 8,736 | $57,396 | $142,400 | $875 |
| 7 | Kennebunk | 6,008 | $93,167 | $429,600 | $1,411 |
| 8 | Rockland | 6,991 | $55,276 | $234,400 | $986 |
| 9 | Yarmouth | 6,293 | $92,311 | $506,300 | $1,694 |
| 10 | Gardiner | 6,047 | $58,152 | $198,100 | $927 |