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.
$962 median rent · $67,679 median income · #5 cheapest rent in Maine
Located in
Waldo County, MaineBelfast 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
$814 median rent · $59,236 median income · #1 cheapest rent in Maine
$1,044 median rent · $69,390 median income · #11 cheapest rent in Maine
Located in
Sagadahoc County, MaineBath 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
$1,133 median rent · $112,228 median income · #16 cheapest rent in Maine
$1,017 median rent · $77,375 median income · #8 cheapest rent in Maine
Located in
Hancock County, MaineEllsworth 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
$904 median rent · $55,768 median income · #3 cheapest rent in Maine
Located in
Aroostook County, MainePresque Isle is the commercial center and largest city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,171 in 2015 as estimated by the US Census, a decrease from the count of 9,692 in the 2010 Census. The city is home to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College, Husson University Presque Isle, Northern Maine Fairgrounds, The Aroostook Centre Mall, and the Northern Maine Regional Airport.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,280 median rent · $59,784 median income · #19 cheapest rent in Maine
$1,663 median rent · $93,575 median income · #27 cheapest rent in Maine
Yarmouth is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, located twelve miles north of the state’s largest city, Portland. The town was settled in 1636 and incorporated in 1849. Its population was 8,349 in the 2010 census. As of 2015’s estimation, this is about 0.6% of Maine’s total population.
$1,246 median rent · $60,050 median income · #17 cheapest rent in Maine
$1,092 median rent · $56,533 median income · #14 cheapest rent in Maine
Located in
Knox County, MaineRockland 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 to retire in Maine
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Pine Tree State for 2026
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 29 places from across the state.
For these 29, 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 29, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Belfast, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Maine.
The full plate
Best Places To Retire In Maine
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Retire Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast | 7.30 | 6,986 | $67,679 | $380,697 | $962 |
| 2 | Houlton | 8.70 | 5,082 | $59,236 | $150,856 | $814 |
| 3 | Bath | 9.30 | 8,815 | $69,390 | $365,662 | $1,044 |
| 4 | Hampden | 10.00 | 5,161 | $112,228 | $346,884 | $1,133 |
| 5 | Ellsworth | 11.70 | 8,657 | $77,375 | $346,769 | $1,017 |
| 6 | Presque Isle | 12.00 | 8,736 | $55,768 | $171,303 | $904 |
| 7 | Orono | 12.10 | 11,151 | $59,784 | $299,516 | $1,280 |
| 8 | Yarmouth | 12.50 | 6,289 | $93,575 | $753,763 | $1,663 |
| 9 | Old Orchard Beach | 12.90 | 9,244 | $60,050 | $501,228 | $1,246 |
| 10 | Rockland | 13.20 | 7,035 | $56,533 | $340,484 | $1,092 |
| 11 | Kennebunk | 13.20 | 6,221 | $95,169 | $620,454 | $1,466 |
| 12 | Saco | 14.60 | 20,819 | $92,241 | $520,612 | $1,249 |
| 13 | Skowhegan | 15.00 | 6,662 | $45,388 | $224,695 | $880 |
| 14 | Gorham | 15.10 | 7,593 | $128,190 | $535,256 | $1,573 |
| 15 | Topsham | 15.30 | 7,271 | $100,024 | $463,781 | $1,491 |
| 16 | Bangor | 15.50 | 31,938 | $59,942 | $281,560 | $1,055 |
| 17 | Brewer | 15.60 | 9,652 | $66,613 | $297,006 | $1,086 |
| 18 | Augusta | 16.40 | 19,077 | $47,979 | $273,948 | $919 |
| 19 | Winslow | 16.80 | 5,873 | $59,547 | $289,403 | $1,036 |
| 20 | South Portland | 16.90 | 26,930 | $86,838 | $517,132 | $1,812 |
| 21 | Westbrook | 17.30 | 20,775 | $85,038 | $449,009 | $1,392 |
| 22 | Brunswick | 17.30 | 17,652 | $70,722 | $484,937 | $1,465 |
| 23 | Portland | 17.60 | 68,854 | $79,540 | $557,760 | $1,577 |
| 24 | Gardiner | 17.60 | 6,088 | $71,782 | $284,200 | $1,113 |
| 25 | Lewiston | 18.20 | 38,324 | $55,393 | $296,288 | $986 |
| 26 | Auburn | 19.50 | 24,602 | $66,647 | $321,213 | $1,041 |
| 27 | Waterville | 19.90 | 17,077 | $53,580 | $243,116 | $978 |
| 28 | Biddeford | 20.60 | 22,498 | $72,333 | $505,512 | $1,292 |
| 29 | Kittery | 22.90 | 5,110 | $84,730 | $673,218 | $1,697 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, OpenFlights. 29 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
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 Belfast.
The best places to retire in Maine are Belfast, Houlton, Bath, Hampden, Ellsworth, Presque Isle, Orono, Yarmouth, Old Orchard Beach, and Rockland.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley.
