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 2026
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, Belfast is the best place to retire in Maine for 2026.
How’d we come up with this list? We narrowed our search down to the 29 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 Belfast 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 2026
/10
Population: 6,986
Median Income: $67,679
Median Home Price: $380,696
Median Rent: $962
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Belfast: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
/10
Population: 8,815
Median Income: $69,390
Median Home Price: $365,662
Median Rent: $1,044
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Bath: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,161
Median Income: $112,228
Median Home Price: $346,884
Median Rent: $1,133
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Hampden: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 8,657
Median Income: $77,375
Median Home Price: $346,768
Median Rent: $1,017
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Ellsworth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,736
Median Income: $55,768
Median Home Price: $171,302
Median Rent: $904
Distance to Closest Airport: 40 miles
More on Presque Isle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,151
Median Income: $59,784
Median Home Price: $299,515
Median Rent: $1,280
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Orono: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,289
Median Income: $93,575
Median Home Price: $753,763
Median Rent: $1,663
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Yarmouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,244
Median Income: $60,050
Median Home Price: $501,228
Median Rent: $1,246
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Old Orchard Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,035
Median Income: $56,533
Median Home Price: $340,483
Median Rent: $1,092
Distance to Closest Airport: 49 miles
More on Rockland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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.
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:
- Kittery
- Biddeford
- Waterville
For more Maine reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Maine
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast | 6,986 | $67,679 | $380,696 | $962 |
| 2 | Houlton | 5,082 | $59,236 | $150,856 | $814 |
| 3 | Bath | 8,815 | $69,390 | $365,662 | $1,044 |
| 4 | Hampden | 5,161 | $112,228 | $346,884 | $1,133 |
| 5 | Ellsworth | 8,657 | $77,375 | $346,768 | $1,017 |
| 6 | Presque Isle | 8,736 | $55,768 | $171,302 | $904 |
| 7 | Orono | 11,151 | $59,784 | $299,515 | $1,280 |
| 8 | Yarmouth | 6,289 | $93,575 | $753,763 | $1,663 |
| 9 | Old Orchard Beach | 9,244 | $60,050 | $501,228 | $1,246 |
| 10 | Rockland | 7,035 | $56,533 | $340,483 | $1,092 |