State relocation profile · Federal data
Maine
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Maine from federal sources.
- 97.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,447
- 2BR rent / mo
- $70,351
- Median salary
- 50.8
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Maine ranks #27 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (50.8/100, D), with its strongest marks in safety and environment.
- #27 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 50.8
- Life Score · D
- 97.0
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $70,351
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: schools (0/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Maine ranks #27 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 97.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,447/mo, median salary $70,351; Life Score 50.8/100 (D), strongest in safety and environment.
Signature: Maine lists 3 MSAs; statewide figures still mask metro-to-metro swings.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 97.0 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,447/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $70,351.
Composite Life Score 50.8/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#27 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (3 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet ME · Maine 50.8/100 · D · #27 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-PAR · LEAD-SAFETY · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-MID #27/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-PAR RPP 97.0
- LEAD-SAFETY Lead · safety
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Georgia (+ 0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Maine
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Maine on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Maine childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Maine (infant $11,325/yr leads the book).
Maine Life Score breakdown
Maine composites to 50.8/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #27 of 51.
Maine - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Safety
Safety
92 /100
- Environment
Environment
62 /100
- Wages
Wages
60 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
50 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
43 /100
- Rent 30
Rent
30 /100
- Schools 0
Schools
0 /100
What this shows Maine's strongest dimensions are safety and environment; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 0/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Maine on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Maine on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Maine
Explore detailed relocation data for 3 metropolitan areas in Maine. Maine contains 3 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Bangor, Lewiston-Auburn, Portland-South Portland - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Bangor metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Maine cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Maine wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.