7 Most Affordable Places to Live in Maine in 2024
Living in Maine offers a unique lifestyle that just might make you want to move there. With its stunning coastline along the Atlantic Ocean perfect for beachcombing, lobster feasts, and seeing the picturesque lighthouses, delightful small towns, and rugged landscapes of the Acadia National Park, there’s much more to do and see in Maine.
If you’re considering living somewhere in Maine then chances are you also have a budget you’re hoping to stay under. When it comes to buying a home in Maine the median home sale price is $410,600.
Don’t worry if that price doesn’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. Redfin has rounded up a list of the 7 of the most affordable places to live in Maine – and they all have a median home sale price under the state’s average. From Waterville to Bangor, find out which cities made the list.
#1: Waterville
Median home price: $260,000
Average sale price per square foot: $140
Median household income: $39,722
Nearest major metro: Bangor (55 miles)
Waterville, ME homes for sale
Waterville, ME apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $260,000, Waterville takes the number one spot on our list of affordable places to live in Maine. There are about 15,800 residents living in this mid-sized city. Living in Waterville, you can hike along the Quarry Road Trails and check out the Colby College Museum of Art. Make sure to explore downtown where you’ll find lots of shops, restaurants, and the Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market on Thursdays.
#2: Augusta
Median home price: $285,000
Average sale price per square foot: $176
Median household income: $38,842
Nearest major metro: Portland (60 miles)
Augusta, ME homes for sale
Augusta, ME apartments for rent
Coming in as the second most affordable city to live in Maine is Augusta. When living in this city of 18,900 people, you can stop by Capitol Park where you’ll find views of the Kennebec River and the Maine State House. Make sure to hike the Kennebec River Trail, explore downtown, and check out Old Fort Western, the oldest standing wood fort in New England.
#3: Lewiston
Median home price: $312,000
Average sale price per square foot: $192
Median household income: $38,842
Nearest major metro: Portland (37 miles)
Lewiston, ME homes for sale
Lewiston, ME apartments for rent
Consider adding Lewiston to your list of cities to consider moving to if you’re looking for an affordable place to move to in Maine. Home to 37,100 residents, this affordable town can be a great option to add to your list. Living in Lewiston, you can hike the trails at Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, check out the scenic Heritage Park, see the local vendors at Lewiston Farmers’ Market, and stop by historic sites like Continental Mill.
#4: Bangor
Median home price: $312,250
Average sale price per square foot: $173
Median household income: $47,538
Bangor, ME homes for sale
Bangor, ME apartments for rent
About 31,700 people reside in Bangor. The median home sale price is $312,250 which is about $100K less than the median home sale price in Maine. Make sure to discover museums like the Zillman Art Museum, Maine Discovery Museum, or Cole Land Transportation Museum. You can also explore downtown and the Bangor Waterfront, and hike or cross country ski at Bangor City Forest if you move to the fourth most affordable city.
#5: Orono
Median home price: $325,000
Average sale price per square foot: $179
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,200
Median household income: $43,102
Nearest major metro: Bangor (10 miles)
Orono, ME homes for sale
Orono, ME apartments for rent
Another noteworthy city is Orono, where you’ll find the home prices are about $85K less than the state’s average. Orono has about 11,200 residents and is a great city to consider renting or buying a house this year. There’s lots of activities to do in this city. You can spend the afternoon at Pushaw Lake, hike along the Stillwater Trail or the trails at Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area, and check out downtown Orono, among many other local favorites.
#6: Auburn
Median home price: $377,500
Average sale price per square foot: $249
Median household income: $38,842
Nearest major metro: Portland (35 miles)
Auburn, ME homes for sale
Auburn, ME apartments for rent
A bit more expensive than Orono is Auburn, the next city on our list. With a population close to 24,100, there’s still plenty to do in this city. Plan to hike along Auburn Lake Nature Trail where you’ll find picturesque views of Lake Auburn, explore the riverfront areas, and take the Longley Bridge over to explore nearby Lewiston.
#7: Sanford
Median home price: $379,900
Average sale price per square foot: $237
Median household income: $58,294
Nearest major metro: Portland (35 miles)
Sanford, ME homes for sale
Sanford, ME apartments for rent
Rounding out our list of affordable places to live in Maine is none other than Sanford. With a population of close to 21,900, you’ll be living in a mid-sized city, but there is no shortage of things to do in Sanford. If you find yourself moving to this city make sure to hike along the Mousam Way Trails, camp at one of the campgrounds, and check out the downtown area.
Methodology: All cities must have over 10,000 residents per the US Census and have a median home sale price under the average median home sale price in Maine. Median home sale price and median sale price per square foot from the Redfin Data Center during July 2024. Average rental data from Rent.com August 2023. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
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