The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Maine In 2023


The cheapest places to live in Maine for 2023 are Caribou, Eastport, and Presque Isle.

When it comes to the cheapest places to live in Maine, the HomeSnacks 2023 report on Maine has some fresh data to offer. Despite Maine’s reputation for having some of the highest rent in the country, there are still pockets of affordability to be found when you look into the data.

We looked at Maine’s Census data on home prices, incomes, and rents and cross-referenced them with data on the overall cost of living to find the cheapest places to live in Maine. The results produced some of the cheapest, best real estate you’ll find in Maine.

Many of Maine’s top ten most affordable places to live are also some of their safest. These places also offer a ton of local amenities — you can ski Bridgton’s Shawnee Peak in the winter or head to Bar Harbor for a summer beach day.

Want to know more about the most affordable towns in Maine? We suggest you take a ferry from North Haven to Owls Head, grab a lobster roll at Rockland’s Lobster Festival, and read on.

The 10 most affordable places to live in Maine

  1. Caribou
  2. Eastport
  3. Presque Isle
  4. Calais
  5. Gardiner
  6. Ellsworth
  7. Lewiston
  8. Auburn
  9. Bangor
  10. Waterville

What is the cheapest place to live in Maine for 2023? The cheapest place to live in Maine is Caribou for 2023 based on our analysis of the Census data for Maine cities.

The competition was fierce. Many of Maine’s top ten most affordable places boast great home prices and safe neighborhoods. However, some towns are cheaper than others in the Pine Tree State.

So, if you care about home values and affordability, look at the list below to see where your Maine dollar will go the furthest. And if you don’t find your favorite there, head to the bottom for a complete list of the cheapest towns in Maine.

Check out some more reading about Maine and the cheapest places in the country:

The 10 cheapest places to live in Maine for 2023

We kick our tour of the most affordable places to live in Maine with Caribou, the most northeastern city in America. In Caribou, you’ll find the first least expensive homes in Maine, at a median price of $99,300. What’s more, residents of Caribou spend the smallest percentage of their income on homes. If you just want to make sure you can brave the cold and snow before settling down here, rent in Caribou goes for about $628/month.

Thrill-seekers and beer-drinkers alike will find something to love in Caribou, because it’s one of the best places for snowmobiling in Maine as well as the home of Northern Maine Brewing Company. Small heads up for those considering Caribou, though; it’s the most conservative place in Maine.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 7,448
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.3x (most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 70.0x (5th cheapest)
More On Caribou: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Caribou, ME

Source: Public domain

The easternmost city in America, Eastport, ranks as the second cheapest city to live in Maine. Eastport consists entirely of islands, so you if you want something different than fishing Maine’s rivers and lakes, the deep-sea fishing on offer in Eastport is sure to be a nice change of pace. Speaking of the sea, Eastport celebrates both the Salmon and Seafood Festival and the Pirate Festival every year, so we hope you’re ready to party before moving here. Eastport has the third least expensive homes for sale in Maine, with a median price of $111,600. For both renters and buyers, Eastport is in the top ten statewide for housing to income ratio.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,226
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x (5th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 90.9x (16th cheapest)
More On Eastport: Real Estate

Eastport, ME

We’re taking a short drive south from Caribou to arrive at the third cheapest place to call home in Maine, Presque Isle, the commercial center of Aroostook County. Buying a home in Presque Isle will set you back about $119,600, the fourth lowest price in Maine. As far as home price to income ratio goes, Presque Isle is the second best in the state. Presque Isle is home to Arastook State Park, so you’ll never have to go far to get away from it all.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,859
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.5x (2nd most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 64.2x (11th cheapest)
More On Presque Isle: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Presque Isle, ME

If you’re looking for the absolute lowest home prices in Maine, look no further than Calais. Homes in Calais go for a measly $100,300, so if you’re coming here with some savings, you’ll have the mortgage paid off in no time flat. Calais residents spend the third smallest proportion of their income on homes statewide. On the downside, Calais ranks as the least affordable place to rent on this list. As for cheap entertainment options in Calais, taking a white-water canoe trip to St. Croix Island always makes for a good day out.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,010
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.6x (3rd most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 63.4x (22nd cheapest)
More On Calais: Real Estate | Crime Rate

Calais, ME

Gardiner is popular with tourists, and it’s not hard to see why. This Augusta suburb is known for its old architecture and distinct culture. It doesn’t matter what you’re into — shopping in Gardiner’s historic downtown, catching a show at Johnson Hall, or a fireworks display at Waterfront Park — Gardiner has something for everyone. If you come as a tourist and decide you want to try living in Gardiner for a bit, rent will set you back about $824/month. It probably won’t take you long to fall in love with the city and decide to settle down here permanently. If you do decide to buy, the median home price in Gardiner is $153,900.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 5,944
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.7x (4th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 69.7x (2cheapest)
More On Gardiner: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Gardiner, ME

We’re finishing our list of cheapest places to live in Maine in Ellsworth, a happening little city that’s on the rise. We named Ellsworth one of the best places to live in Maine thanks to its impressive schools, safe streets, and solid markets for jobs and homes. Affordable rent is Ellsworth’s primary distinction; paying $827/month on a median income of $58,029 gives Ellsworth the second best rent to income ratio in Maine. If you’re planning on moving to Ellsworth, you may want to expedite the process, because the secrets out on Ellsworth and it’s one of the fastest growing cities in Maine.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 8,340
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.0x (6th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 70.2x (2nd cheapest)
More On Ellsworth: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Ellsworth, ME

Life in a bustling area does not have to cost a pretty penny and Lewiston is a perfect example of that. The city, which is home to five higher education institutions, including Purdue Global, offers a high quality of life at a reasonable price.

The median household income of $48,069 goes a lot further in Lewiston than it would other places, especially when it comes to housing. There is no sticker shock here. Homes have a median value of only $157,500. Plus, the city’s firm grip on crime means you can settle down in various parts of town without looking over your shoulder or constantly double-checking the lock on your door.

Don’t let the affordability fool you, Lewiston is also rich in history and things to do, like watching a hockey game in the building where the famous Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston fight occurred.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 36,615
Rank Last Year: 14 (Up 7)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x (7th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 59.8x (15th cheapest)
More On Lewiston: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Lewiston, ME

Source: Public domain

Located across the Androscoggin River from Lewiston, Auburn comes in as the eighth cheapest place in Maine. Winter sportsmen and women will be happy to have the Lost Valley in their backyard, while everyone can enjoy the Auburn Riverwalk. The median rent in Auburn is $814/month and the median home price is $190,000. For both categories, Auburn is safely in the top ten for housing to income ratios.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 23,790
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 3)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x (12th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 68.1x (17th cheapest)
More On Auburn: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Auburn, ME

Located in the heart of maine, Bangor is a great place to call home. With a population of 31,920, it offers an affordable cost of living. The median rent in Bangor is only $883 and the median home value is $162,900, making it a solid option for those looking to buy a house.

In addition to its affordability, Bangor has a strong sense of community and plenty of amenities. The city is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions, including the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the annual American Folk Festival.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 31,920
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x (8th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 56.2x (13th cheapest)
More On Bangor: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Bangor, ME

Source: Public domain

Waterville is a city in Kennebec County that offers affordable living to its residents. With a median home value of $137,100 and a median rent of $805, Waterville is a great option for those looking to save money. Additionally, the income to rent ratio is 51.24, which means that residents can comfortably afford their rent while still having money left over for other expenses.

Home to Colby College and Thomas College, the city has a diverse population of 15,872 people and is situated on the west bank of the Kennebec River. With its picturesque location and bustling downtown area, Waterville is a great place to live for people who value convenience and affordability.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 15,872
Rank Last Year: 8 (Down 2)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x (9th most affordable)
Income To Rent Ratio: 51.2x (14th cheapest)
More On Waterville: Real Estate | Crime Rate | Cost Of Living

Waterville, ME

Cheapest places to live in Maine FAQs

The county in Maine with the lowest cost of living is Cumberland County. The average living wage in Cumberland County is $102,589 according to MIT data. Cumberland County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Maine as a whole. Childcare costs $19,660 a year in Cumberland County for two children compared to the Maine average of $16,757. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $17,631 per year in Cumberland County compared to $12,883 on average in Maine.

The cost of living in Maine is 4.6% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Maine is $93,871 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Maine household is $59,489.

The cheapest housing market in Maine is Caribou. The average home value in Caribou is $93,100, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Maine is $198,000, almost 2.1 times higher than Caribou.

Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Pine Tree State for 2023

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
Determining affordability for places in Maine boils down to two factors:

  1. How much money do I make?
  2. How much does it cost to live here?

You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make to determine affordability. For example, imagine a place in Maine where median incomes are $100,000 and housing costs $200,000 to buy. That’s more affordable than living in a place with a median income of $50,000 where houses cost $101,000. The ratio of income to home prices is higher in the first example.

With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2017-2021 for Maine. The cost of living statistics are:

  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

You can include median home price as a stand alone variable because high home prices generally correlate with higher costs for all goods and services (heating, electricity, food, etc). You then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Maine to figure out which is the least expensive.

We aggregate those rankings into a “Cost of Living Index” for each city in Maine. The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 22 places in Maine that have more than 1,000 people from least expensive to most expensive.

The place in Maine with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Caribou. You can download the entre cost of living data set for Maine here.

Maine affordabilility summary

This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Maine for 2023, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Maine.

Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Maine according to the data:

  1. Portland
  2. South Portland
  3. Biddeford

For more Maine reading, check out:

The cheapest places to live in Maine

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Caribou 1.67
2 Eastport 3.0
3 Presque Isle 5.0
4 Calais 5.0
5 Gardiner 5.33
6 Ellsworth 7.0
7 Lewiston 9.33
8 Auburn 10.33
9 Bangor 11.33
10 Waterville 11.33
11 Bath 11.67
12 Brewer 12.33
13 Old Town 12.67
14 Rockland 13.33
15 Westbrook 13.33
16 Augusta 14.0
17 Hallowell 14.33
18 Belfast 14.67
19 Saco 17.0
20 Biddeford 19.0
21 South Portland 20.33
22 Portland 21.0
Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Maine.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.