You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Maine. Best sururbs in Maine. Best counties in Maine.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Pine Tree State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Maine based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Maine ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Maine For 2024
- Falmouth Foreside
- Kittery Point
- Falmouth
- York Harbor
- South Eliot
- Cape Neddick
- Cumberland Center
- Camden
- Hampden
- Freeport
- Hallowell
- Thomaston
- North Berwick
- Farmingdale
- Wiscasset
What’s the best small town in Maine? Falmouth Foreside is the best small town in Maine based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Falmouth Foreside, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Pine Tree State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Maine For 2024
1. Falmouth Foreside
/10
Population: 2,022
Median Income: $190,476 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $974,523 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
2. Kittery Point
/10
Population: 1,017
Median Income: $121,042 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $696,426 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
3. Falmouth
/10
Population: 1,620
Median Income: $112,596 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $797,511 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
4. York Harbor
/10
Population: 3,640
Median Income: $89,647 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $827,499 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%
5. South Eliot
/10
Population: 3,686
Median Income: $91,457 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $649,050 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
6. Cape Neddick
/10
Population: 2,462
Median Income: $76,701 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $908,354 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
7. Cumberland Center
/10
Population: 2,913
Median Income: $116,891 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $690,583 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%
8. Camden
/10
Population: 3,644
Median Income: $92,857 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $627,938 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.2%
9. Hampden
/10
Population: 4,466
Median Income: $97,019 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $321,416 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
10. Freeport
/10
Population: 1,848
Median Income: $76,012 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $618,272 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 10.7%
11. Hallowell
/10
Population: 2,558
Median Income: $62,990 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $341,802 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
12. Thomaston
/10
Population: 2,101
Median Income: $54,155 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $317,968 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
13. North Berwick
/10
Population: 1,806
Median Income: $50,579 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $444,597 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%
14. Farmingdale
/10
Population: 2,264
Median Income: $58,709 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $310,772 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
15. Wiscasset
/10
Population: 1,207
Median Income: $102,792 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $338,680 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Maine
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Maine possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 68 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 68, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Maine. Top of that list — Falmouth Foreside.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Maine.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Maine are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Maine are Falmouth Foreside, Kittery Point, Falmouth, York Harbor, South Eliot, Cape Neddick, Cumberland Center, Camden, Hampden, and Freeport.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Maine:
- Howland
- Rumford
- Norway
For more Maine reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Maine
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falmouth Foreside, ME | 2,022 | $190,476 | 2.8% | |
| 2 | Kittery Point, ME | 1,017 | $121,042 | 0.9% | |
| 3 | Falmouth, ME | 1,620 | $112,596 | 3.8% | |
| 4 | York Harbor, ME | 3,640 | $89,647 | 0.7% | |
| 5 | South Eliot, ME | 3,686 | $91,457 | 2.6% | |
| 6 | Cape Neddick, ME | 2,462 | $76,701 | 6.0% | |
| 7 | Cumberland Center, ME | 2,913 | $116,891 | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Camden, ME | 3,644 | $92,857 | 5.2% | |
| 9 | Hampden, ME | 4,466 | $97,019 | 2.3% | |
| 10 | Freeport, ME | 1,848 | $76,012 | 10.7% | |
| 11 | Hallowell, ME | 2,558 | $62,990 | 0.9% | |
| 12 | Thomaston, ME | 2,101 | $54,155 | 2.3% | |
| 13 | North Berwick, ME | 1,806 | $50,579 | 0.7% | |
| 14 | Farmingdale, ME | 2,264 | $58,709 | 2.0% | |
| 15 | Wiscasset, ME | 1,207 | $102,792 | 3.3% | |
| 16 | Berwick, ME | 2,050 | $63,199 | 5.0% | |
| 17 | Lisbon Falls, ME | 4,177 | $69,013 | 3.9% | |
| 18 | Fort Kent, ME | 2,515 | $57,067 | 2.8% | |
| 19 | Winthrop, ME | 2,546 | $66,875 | 6.1% | |
| 20 | West Kennebunk, ME | 1,269 | $90,104 | 14.3% | |
| 21 | Searsport, ME | 1,053 | $59,679 | 13.9% | |
| 22 | Bar Harbor, ME | 2,154 | $46,917 | 10.6% | |
| 23 | Lake Arrowhead, ME | 2,896 | $80,819 | 1.6% | |
| 24 | Damariscotta, ME | 1,267 | $53,571 | 7.6% | |
| 25 | Kennebunkport, ME | 1,318 | $113,456 | 8.1% | |
| 26 | Steep Falls, ME | 2,087 | $85,040 | 0.0% | |
| 27 | Winterport, ME | 1,100 | $44,205 | 0.0% | |
| 28 | Richmond, ME | 1,835 | $68,030 | 5.1% | |
| 29 | Eastport, ME | 1,211 | $44,919 | 2.8% | |
| 30 | East Millinocket, ME | 1,541 | $44,531 | 5.2% | |
| 31 | Fort Fairfield, ME | 1,566 | $55,625 | 13.7% | |
| 32 | Fryeburg, ME | 1,503 | $41,350 | 6.6% | |
| 33 | Clinton, ME | 1,436 | $71,934 | 0.0% | |
| 34 | Farmington, ME | 4,318 | $40,350 | 4.4% | |
| 35 | Dexter, ME | 1,745 | $56,280 | 4.7% | |
| 36 | Dixfield, ME | 1,512 | $52,208 | 1.9% | |
| 37 | Waldoboro, ME | 1,553 | $54,345 | 4.0% | |
| 38 | Houlton, ME | 4,918 | $50,625 | 18.6% | |
| 39 | South Paris, ME | 2,208 | $42,321 | 2.8% | |
| 40 | Milford, ME | 2,270 | $59,053 | 3.5% | |
| 41 | Oakland, ME | 2,519 | $41,499 | 0.7% | |
| 42 | Chisholm, ME | 1,074 | $58,750 | 6.3% | |
| 43 | Randolph, ME | 1,522 | $48,654 | 5.6% | |
| 44 | Pittsfield, ME | 3,148 | $42,292 | 1.6% | |
| 45 | Mexico, ME | 1,833 | $35,093 | 2.2% | |
| 46 | Newport, ME | 1,485 | $36,563 | 2.7% | |
| 47 | Bucksport, ME | 2,947 | $48,942 | 8.2% | |
| 48 | Livermore Falls, ME | 1,765 | $44,864 | 3.9% | |
| 49 | Bridgton, ME | 1,514 | $56,475 | 8.4% | |
| 50 | Limestone, ME | 1,165 | $36,023 | 2.4% | |
| 51 | Dover-Foxcroft, ME | 2,836 | $47,764 | 7.1% | |
| 52 | Mechanic Falls, ME | 2,286 | $55,986 | 8.7% | |
| 53 | Machias, ME | 1,331 | $25,278 | 8.6% | |
| 54 | Woodland, ME | 1,173 | $44,917 | 2.4% | |
| 55 | Calais, ME | 3,078 | $45,250 | 9.8% | |
| 56 | Madawaska, ME | 2,726 | $35,644 | 11.2% | |
| 57 | Norridgewock, ME | 1,099 | $41,944 | 0.0% | |
| 58 | Fairfield, ME | 2,647 | $34,657 | 4.6% | |
| 59 | Millinocket, ME | 4,136 | $45,345 | 8.9% | |
| 60 | Wilton, ME | 1,599 | $42,143 | 11.1% | |
| 61 | Oxford, ME | 1,100 | $75,065 | 17.5% | |
| 62 | Milo, ME | 1,409 | $51,528 | 2.1% | |
| 63 | Madison, ME | 2,100 | $39,695 | 1.9% | |
| 64 | Van Buren, ME | 1,682 | $34,263 | 1.6% | |
| 65 | Lincoln, ME | 2,521 | $28,932 | 2.4% | |
| 66 | Norway, ME | 2,698 | $38,381 | 7.5% | |
| 67 | Rumford, ME | 3,922 | $35,818 | 6.7% | |
| 68 | Howland, ME | 1,126 | $45,313 | 10.0% |
