Portland, ME vs York, ME
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | PortlandPortland, ME | YorkYork, ME | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Good | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Safe | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
1,920 property crimes per 100,000 people in Portland, ME, compared with 441 in York, ME, a 4.4× higher rate in Portland according to 2025 FBI data. 2023 Census figures show Portland's population of 68,505 is 17.8 times larger than York's 3,853, and its population density of 3,180 per square mile contrasts with York's density of 0 per square mile, placing Portland in the 80th percentile and York in the 2nd percentile. Average household size is 2.1 in Portland and 2.8 in York, a 35% larger figure for York, which ranks in the 79th percentile versus Portland's 7th.
Violent crime per 100,000 people is 241 in Portland and 56 in York, with Portland in the 54th percentile and York in the 10th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 are 22 in Portland and 11 in York, double the rate in Portland, which sits in the 64th percentile compared with York's 27th. Healthcare access scores are 100 out of 100 for Portland and 81 out of 100 for York, a 19-point difference placing Portland in the 90th percentile and York in the 45th. Median home values are $452,600 in Portland and $561,700 in York, 24% higher in York, while median rents are $1,487 in Portland and $1,258 in York, 18% higher in Portland.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Portland, ME | York, ME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 14174th pctl | 14576th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $452,60078th pctl | $561,70085th pctl | Median home value: Portland, ME $452,600; York, ME $561,700; York is 24% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,48770th pctl | $1,25854th pctl | Median rent: Portland, ME $1,487; York, ME $1,258; Portland is 18% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $76,17454th pctl | $91,67571st pctl | Median household income: Portland, ME $76,174; York, ME $91,675; York is 20% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $87,93279th pctl | $109,12988th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Portland, ME $87,932; York, ME $109,129; York is 24% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $129,26079th pctl | $160,41988th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Portland, ME $129,260; York, ME $160,419; York is 24% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in York needs about
$77,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 141 vs 145). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Portland, ME | York, ME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.4%5th pctl | 2.7%12th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.7%69th pctl | +1.7%69th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $52,12580th pctl | $47,58773rd pctl | Per-capita income: Portland, ME $52,125; York, ME $47,587; Portland is 10% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.2%48th pctl | 6.1%19th pctl | Poverty rate: Portland, ME 11.2%; York, ME 6.1%; Portland is 5.1 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19.9 min27th pctl | 27.1 minCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Average commute: Portland, ME 19.9 min; York, ME 27.1 min; York is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 21.5%86th pctl | 24.0%89th pctl | Work from home: Portland, ME 21.5%; York, ME 24.0%; York is 2.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Portland, ME | York, ME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 24154th pctl | 5610th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Portland, ME 241; York, ME 56; Portland is 4.3 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,92075th pctl | 4419th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Portland, ME 1,920; York, ME 441; Portland is 4.4 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Portland, ME B+; York, ME A+; York is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Portland, ME C+; York, ME A-; York is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Portland, ME | York, ME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Portland, ME A+; York, ME A-; Portland is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Portland, ME C; York, ME B+; York is graded higher. |
| Power grid | AverageState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AverageState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Portland, ME.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Maine, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Maine →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Portland, ME | York, ME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 282 mi65th pctl | 242 mi62nd pctl | Nearest large city: Portland, ME 282 mi; York, ME 242 mi; Portland is 17% higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 125 mi13th pctl | 146 mi16th pctl | Distance to international border: Portland, ME 125 mi; York, ME 146 mi; York is 16% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 3 mi4th pctl | 2 mi3rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Portland, ME 3 mi; York, ME 2 mi; Portland is 61% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Exposed | Strategic location: Portland, ME D; York, ME C; York is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Portland, ME | York, ME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,50581st pctl | 3,85316th pctl | Population: Portland, ME 68,505; York, ME 3,853; Portland is 17.8 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,18080th pctl | 02nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Portland, ME 3,180; York, ME 0; Portland is 3,180 higher. |
| Median age | 37.546th pctl | 41.775th pctl | Median age: Portland, ME 37.5; York, ME 41.7; York is 4.2 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.2%87th pctl | 36.0%59th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Portland, ME 59.2%; York, ME 36.0%; Portland is 23.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.17th pctl | 2.879th pctl | Average household size: Portland, ME 2.1; York, ME 2.8; York is 35% larger. |
More about Portland's residents · York's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Portland and York
- Median rent: $1,487 in Portland, $1,258 in York
- Median home value: $452,600 in Portland, $561,700 in York
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 141 in Portland, 145 in York
- Median household income: $76,174 in Portland, $91,675 in York
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $129,260 in Portland, $160,419 in York
- Unemployment: 2.4% in Portland, 2.7% in York
- Average commute: 19.9 min in Portland, 27.1 min in York
- Violent crime per 100k: 241 in Portland, 56 in York
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More places like Portland and York
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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