You have to have a certain mindset to want to live in Maine.
It’s not an easy life for most of the year. But if you ask people who live there, they are fiercely protective of their state. After all, Maine is one of the most beautiful states in America. They stick together up there, and would probably rather flatlandahs stay right where they are.
But is it all great in The Pine Tree State? Of course not. Just like every other state, Maine has its trouble spots. The purpose of this post is to use science and data to determine which cities in Maine are the least desirable to live in.
Of course, many of the cities on this list would rank highly if they were in other states. But nonetheless, according to science, these cities are the worst places you could possibly live if you make Maine your home.
After analyzing 20 of the state’s most populous cities (over 2,500 people), we came up with this list as the 10 worst places to live in Maine:
The 10 Worst Places To Live In Maine For 2023
Where are these places, you wonder? And before you get all riled up and say we’re picking on small towns in Maine, that’s not the case.
We understand there’s a lot of good in every place. For example, the best place to live in Maine is Westbrook.
However, according to data (which doesn’t measure things like beauty and ‘friendly people’), the state has far better options for making a place home. And the worst place to live in Maine? The worst place to live in Maine is Augusta.
Read below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your city fared in 2023.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
For more Maine reading, check out:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Worst Places To Live In Maine For 2023
/10
This may or may not be a surprise to you, but Augusta is the 3rd most dangerous city in Maine. For such a small city, there are an astounding number of property crimes. Residents here have a 1 in 33.5 chance of being the victim of some sort of robbery when within city limits every year. That’s lots of stolen cell phones, guns, snowmobiles and lobster traps.
Besides the crime, there are a few other factors why Augusta might be one of the worst places to live. The home values here are pretty cheap. Why is that not a good thing? Because the salaries of people working in Augusta are really low. People here earn about $40,438 a year per household.
Additionally, the public schools in Augusta are some of the lowest funded in the state.
When all is said and done, you could find much more desirable places to live in Maine than in Augusta.
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Auburn, Maine is not only known as one of the worst places to live in the state but also one of the most dangerous. Crime statistics reveal a concerning reality for residents, with a high number of violent crimes occurring. In 2021 alone, there were 51 reported incidents of violent crime, including robberies and aggravated assaults. The property crime rate is equally alarming, with 652 reported cases, including burglaries. These figures highlight the safety concerns that plague Auburn.
Despite these challenges, it’s important to note that there is hope for improvement. By addressing the root causes of crime and investing in community initiatives, Auburn has the potential to create a safer environment for its residents. Additionally, Auburn’s location within Maine offers opportunities for growth and development. Situated in south-central Maine, it is part of the Lewiston-Auburn metropolitan area, providing access to a range of amenities and resources. With concerted efforts and a focus on community well-being, Auburn can work towards becoming a better place to live for its residents.
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You might be surprised to hear that Waterville has the 7th highest crime rate in Maine. People who live here have a 1 in 20 chance of being robbed. That means if you live here, and you didn’t have something stolen from you, someone on your block probably did.
The schools in Waterville are very poorly funded, and the homes here are very cheap, which is a sign of demand. There are no ‘bargains’ here. Unless you want to buy a cheap house and turn it into a moose lodge
Just don’t leave the door unlocked.
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In the context of the rest of Maine, Lewiston counts as a major urban area. It serves as the second largest city in the state, behind only Portland. As such, it has many of the attributes of a sizable metro area, including parks, museums, and educational institutions, like Bates College.
At the same time, it has some of the challenges of a bigger city. This includes issues with housing, safety, and affordability. The economy provides for a relatively low unemployment rate, but a modest median income leaves many struggling to make ends meet. The poverty rate in town hovers at 16.3%.
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Calais is named after a port in France. Oo la la. That connection doesn’t make life in town any classier. In fact, the community stands as the number 5 least attractive location in the state.
Located in the far northern part of Maine, the town sits along the Passamaquoddy Bay, across the water from Canada. A weak economy explains most of the challenges the area faces. The median income comes in at $39,009, while the unemployment rate hovers at 9.8%.
Still, there are benefits. Calais provides excellent access to the unspoiled natural environment, with great views of the bay and local highlights like the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.
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Gardiner sits about 10 minutes south of the state capital of Augusta, near the junction of the I-95 and I-295. This puts it in the path of a crucial north-south travel corridor in the state.
Still, the town suffers from many of the problems associated with small-town, rural life. In other words, don’t go to Gardiner if you’re looking for diversity or for a wide variety of amenities. Also, the economy is rather stale, leaving 11.5% of the population below the poverty line.
Despite these problems, Gardiner also offers many of the benefits of small-town, rural life. Built along the Kennebec River, you get stellar views at places like Waterfront Park.
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Just south of Caribou is Presque Isle. Things are a tad bit better economically, but the crime rate in Presque Isle is noticeably higher. Residents have a 1 in 58 chance of being robbed. At least that’s what it was back in 2023. Hopefully things have improved here
Incidentally, when we said Augusta was the most dangerous earlier, Portland isn’t too far behind. Every year, you have a 1 in 25 chance of being robbed when you’re within Portland city limits.
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If you’re looking for a quaint, seaside New England town, Biddeford fits the bill. You’ll get ocean views and a bountiful cultural heritage, including the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival, celebrating the French-Canadian influence on the region. Great for a long summer weekend. The rest of the year…not so much.
Boosted by tourism, Biddeford’s economy does okay. But that vacation interest also drives up real estate values, making it difficult for locals to afford a home. The median home price sits at $278,300, compared to a median income of $58,142. Crime is also an issue, running about 25% higher than the national average.
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Bangor is one of the biggest cities in Maine. Sure, it’s Maine, so that means the community only holds 31,920 people. But given the rural nature of the state, that represents an urban area.
As always, life in the big(ish) city comes with problems. You’ve got crime…with Bangor’s crime rate topping the national average by more than 50%. You’ve got affordability…with a median home value of $162,900 compared to a median income of $49,652. And you’ve got poverty…with a local poverty rate of 16.1%.
Of course, Bangor offers some of the benefits of city life as well. It’s got parks, museums, restaurants, and other attractions. Hey, if it’s good enough for Stephen King, it can’t be all bad, right?
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Look up “cute New England town” and you might get a picture of Ellsworth. Set among a series of lakes and waterways along the Maine coast, the town offers stunning views and ample natural beauty. Plus, its a short trip to Mount Desert Island and the resort destination of Bar Harbor.
Still, Ellsworth ends up on this list of worst places to live in Maine. Why? Well, not the economy this time. The town boasts a 2.0% unemployment rate and a $58,029 median income.
Rather, the community suffers from its isolated location. Diversity in town is scarce. At the same time, local amenities are limited and getting to Bangor, the closest thing to a nearby urban area, requires a 40-minute drive.
Methodology: How we determined the worst places to live in Maine for 2023
To figure out the worst places to live in Maine, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what cities have the least amount of those things.
We don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that people like the following things:
- Good education
- Lots of jobs
- Low crime
- Low poverty
- Nice homes
- High incomes
- High population density (Lots of things to do)
- Short work commutes
- Health insurance
The data comes from the Census’s most recent American Community Survey and the FBI Uniform Crime Report.
We broke crime down into violent crime and property crime to give violent crime a more significant weight. If you did a simple calculation of all crimes per capita, property crimes are typically 7x more common and bias that ranking.
Furthermore, only cities with at least 2,000 people were considered — leaving 20 cities.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 20 for all the criteria, with a #1 ranking being the worst for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the rankings into one “Worst Place To Live Score.”
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Worst Place To Live Score,” with the lowest score being the worst city in Maine — Augusta. Read on for a detailed look at the ten worst cities in Maine.
Summary: Wrapping Up The Worst In Maine
If you’re looking at areas in Maine with the worst economic situations, where there’s higher than average crime and little to do, this is an accurate list.
And in the end, Augusta ranks as the worst city to live in Maine for 2023.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best cities to live in Maine:
- South Portland (Pop. 26,428)
- Hallowell (Pop. 2,542)
- Westbrook (Pop. 20,074)
For more Maine reading, check out:
Worst Places To Live In Maine?
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Augusta | 18,895 |
| 2 | Auburn | 23,790 |
| 3 | Waterville | 15,872 |
| 4 | Lewiston | 36,615 |
| 5 | Calais | 3,010 |
| 6 | Gardiner | 5,944 |
| 7 | Presque Isle | 8,859 |
| 8 | Biddeford | 22,331 |
| 9 | Bangor | 31,920 |
| 10 | Ellsworth | 8,340 |
| 11 | Brewer | 9,606 |
| 12 | Rockland | 6,977 |
| 13 | Belfast | 6,890 |
| 14 | Portland | 68,063 |
| 15 | Bath | 8,718 |
| 16 | Caribou | 7,448 |
| 17 | Saco | 20,203 |
| 18 | South Portland | 26,428 |
| 19 | Hallowell | 2,542 |
| 20 | Westbrook | 20,074 |
Your data is flawed by its incompleteness. Anyone can make a list like this come out any way they wish if the skew the data input. I have lived in Augusta, raised three children (great schools) all to productive adulthood, coached at all levels of baseball (best facilities in the state) and find that our city government is approachable, diligent and trustworthy. We are a religious center for all religions to peacefully worship as they choose or not. The restaurants are second to none and shopping is both big-box and VERY MUCH local, as well (all surviving together). Nope! I think your data is definitely flawed, skewed and holds no real value in deciding where in Maine to live. But, hey, thanks for trying.
There are a lot more towns in Maine than 49. And you didn’t appear to pick the 49 cities based on population, because places such as Bridgeton or Farmington have a thriving population compared to Houlton. And you didn’t just pick the largest city in a given area, because Fort Kent or Jay should be added to spread out your map. I’m guessing you just picked cities on 95, maybe?
There is no way you can even say this is based on data, when you pick and choose the points to examine. You need to state the criteria that you choose these 49 cities. This article needs to be renamed: “These Are The 10 Worst Places To Live Out of 49 Cities in Maine”.
I was raised in Caribou and myself and another high school classmate are now doctors and another is even an astronaut. There is something to be said about small towns and not all of them suck. However, your ranking system certainly has a lot to be desired.
Anyone who has the audacity to use the term “lobster cages” (which FYI isn’t a thing) in reference to Augusta (which has a long history of… not lobstering) has either A. Never been to Maine before or B. is trolling. Say what you will about “using data from the internet” because we all know if it is on the internet it must be true.
Your data is a bit skewed. Maine is well-known for being a poor state, but that doesn’t mean everywhere is a poor place to live.
Of course Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland and Falmouth are superior to every other place, they have the highest median incomes of the entire state. That also means they’re the most expensive and least affordable places to live.
Nice try, but no cigar.
As a person who was born and lived in Worcester Massachusetts, I can say without doubt that the worst city in Maine is still far better than most of the cities in Massachusetts in all aspects but access to jobs, which is the biggest problem Maine has. It is silly to measure education by how much is spent per student. The quality of the teacher and the involvement of the parents is the deciding factor in a child’s education. Money spent per student could be considered to show throwing money at problems trying to fix them with the result of getting very little return in reference to actual improvement in student retained knowledge and test scores.
Population density is another flawed measurement. You assume that “indoor entertainment” is the criteria a majority of Maine residence value in a city. This cannot be taken seriously because if that was the case, why would people from out of state leave their bastions of indoor entertainment and flock to Maine in the summer? The amount of camouflage clothing seen and pickup trucks registered in the state of Maine should be a very significant clue as to what many actual value in a city:
Access to Maine’s natural and most profitable resource, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT.
Crime rate is a legitimate measurement but again flawed. Compared to cities in other states of New England, the crime rate is merely a blip on the screen. Also when a per capita measurement is used, it does not consider WHERE in each city you live. If you live in a high crime rate part of a city known to most of us as a”bad neighborhood”, you will have a higher risk of being a victim than in other parts of the same city. I live in Waterville and I do lock my doors at night but that is out of habit from living in Worcester, not fear of being robbed in Waterville.
There is no doubt most cities in Maine need a better economic situation. Only jobs will fix this issue. It is Maine’s only shortcoming. The quality of the people living in a city is its only true measurement. Honest, hard working, down to earth, and a bit eccentric people are the qualities that make a Mainer a Mainer, and what I strive to be as a transplant. This is the majority of the population in every city. Therefor no city in Maine is a bad city.
I find it absolutely HILARIOUS that the person who wrote this truly thinks that they’re right. People like the author of this deserve to be smacked across the face sue to their stupidity.
Apparently the higher spending per student mean higher quality education. If so we should all move to D.C. where they spend the most per student in the country and get marvelous results. If you think that a high population density increases the quality of life then you don’t really understand Maine culture, and please don’t move to Maine.
Oh please I call it GREEDY Culture?? Not MAINE culture smh
Ok, so Falmouth is one of the best places, yet the Washington Post just wrote and article declaring one of the most drug infested place in AMERICA!!!!! Just shows that the “facts” here are purely subjective. Portland is a pit and the line “You might be surprised to hear that Waterville has the 7th highest crime rate in Maine” tells you that. Why would it be a surprise??? It shows a lack of outside knowledge here. Since all of the population figures are wildly wrong (a simple look at wiki could have helped here) it tells us that the “facts” are iprobably wrong as well. That “fact” is, this article is a piece of garbage, and I don’t live in ay of the communities mentioned. It is bias from a Portland point of view, which is a sh;;ty little city with nothing to offer besides a cultural divide of white people who think they are racially integrated. Visit the Old Port some sunny Sunday and see if that is true or not;)
Amen! Portland has to be lived in, if you really want to know what a horrible place to live it is. I prefer any other city on the East coast and I was raised in Maine’s real midcoast. Two towns away from Peyton Place is looking better and better.
lived in Brockton Ma[west side] ,Brunswick,Minot,Waterville, Boston Ma[south end], North Dartmouth Ma , and Skowhegan,Maine
Skowhegan was the WORSE:
Theft and burglary rates are high
Halfway Houses on every other street
Intoxicated subjects walk the streets day and night
Air polluted, Water polluted
10% of the residents have COPD
Loud exhaust pickup trucks barrowling down residential streets 24/7/365, cops afraid to stop them because they are relatives of town employees
Skowhegan is a living nightmare
ex-town manager told me all about the place,there are 3000 people that work, leaving 5000 layabout welfare loafers with too much time on their hands
Waterville Maine is not bad. There are some small secluded middle class neighborhoods left.
I moved out of Maine because i retired to Florida
I was born in Lewiston and raised in Greene, Maine. Nothing mentioned about this great town. I think the list leaves quite a bit to be desired do to the fact that those few towns mentioned do not give a good clear picture of the great state of Maine!!!
I live in Eastern Maine and this report says one of the worst places to live is in Eastern Maine yet they have no even come close to mentioning not even 1 of Eastern Maine’s cities on this.. Heck not even Bar Harbor which is west of us all and advertised as Down East ( which burns us real Down Easterners ).. So take this report anyway you want but surely it is bogus just by the way it is written up..
It’s called infotainment for a reason. Pour a touch of Allens, chase it with a Bud and lighten up.
Well, it’s neither informative or entertainment. You krep drinking your “brandy.” You from Rockland?
*keep
I do not live in Maine but the same questions popped up when researching where to move to (I am from the deep south and my wife is from Russia). Anyone have any real opinions on the best places to live where it is close for my wife to commute to work where we can get some land with our house purchase?
If you are from Massachusetts or “away” I recommend you don’t make a permanent move to Maine, buy a 2nd home for seasonal or weekend visits. Maybe not all towns, but certainly the town I purchased a home in has become the most unwelcoming and perhaps the biggest nightmare experience of my life. I regret investing money into this property to take from the dump it was to what it is now.
The problem in this town and probably many others is the local town politics and it so-called “politicians”. They don’t believe an “outsider” and especially a “Massole” should have any type of business, after all it may cut into “locals” piece of the pie. They make up rules as they go and this has been confirmed by many attorneys who have had to represent people that have been wronged by the town of Denmark, Maine. Then they change their mind and tell you that you have been operating illegally when 3 selectman and 2 Town Managers told you what you are doing is fine and cite you with court actions. They make up nonsensical rules even though State engineers have proven they are wrong.
Then there are the fights they have among themselves politically. When a Selectman doesn’t play by their rules and do exactly as the “locals” instruct they launch recalls. These locals have run around towns with their nasty petitions and publicly published such nasty comments about who they are trying to oust in the local town paper. They run unbiased Town Managers out of town because he didn’t play by the “locals” rule but rather the rule of law. They will lie straight to your face totally unabashed by it.
They accuse you of running a business that you are not although their local “friend” is running exactly that type of business, a Bed & Breakfast. This person has no town permit nor state licensing required for that type of business. Another “local” is running a small engine repair shop along with sales of used equipment which is prominently displayed in his yard throughout the spring, summer and fall months and they have the audacity to say “I have never seen that”. They also allow their town manager to conduct his so-called job based on personal vendettas.
I feel like I am living a horror show in Denmark, Maine so before purchasing any Real Estate property in small town Maine – do you homework, research just what goes on in that town beforehand. I could have saved myself a lot of headaches if I had done so. Many of these small towns want you money but in truth they don’t want you here – but truth be told they couldn’t survive without it.
Stopped in Skowhegan his past week. That place is pretty bad. The people are nasty.
Burglary and robbery are two very different crimes. I infer that you used the word “robbed” in place of theft and property crimes. The key element to robbery is to “take by force or threar of immediate/imminent harm” (in laymans terms). I highly doubt people are getting rolled on the streets of Augusta like it’s the combat zone of a big city. Look up some definitions before you write articles.
* “threat”, not “threar”. Small keypad on the phone.
Maine is a poor and dirty white trash type state. People are mostly extroverted, but not friendly, usually the fart a few insults out of their mouths in each sentence or comment. and they like to comment.
they will fiercly defend their shithole though, and blame you if you don’t like it, even though they don’t like it.
There are no jobs unless you want to work at a fast food place or similar for minimum wage, maybe some seasonal low paid unskilled work. there are about 4 good jobs posted every few months in Portland though.
Prices are pretty high, especially house prices, compared to the economy.
You actually do NEED a car if you live outside of Portland or Westbrook, because there is no public transportation to any place else.
Most lakes to go swimming in and also beaches are almost totally privately owned, and you have to be a neighbor to go to them, or have a house on the water.
people are very defensive and in general Mainers just like to fight, and if you like to fight too, don’t give a sh%t, dress poorly and stuff like that, you will make friends and join their clique here.
Be sure to talk like you miss a few teeth too which is how some of the Maine dialect sounds like in places.
You forgot Madawaska, ME there is no hospital there which means you have to take a 20-30 min. drive to Fort Kent for the nearest hospital so if you live in Madawaska and are having a heart attack or stroke that could mean the difference between life and death. There are no public transportation in Madawaska such as a bus. A shortage of doctors, specialists, nurses and complete quality healthcare in general. Let’s also say for the entire state of Maine where people should complain. Why? If you own a car and you live on fixed income of $12,000 per year then you have another person who has the exact same year and model car but that person makes $50,000 per year both people have to pay the exact same excise car taxes per year with no breaks for the poor. How screw up and sick is that? Why aren’t more people making complaints to the state? Why doesn’t the State of Maine in general advertise more in other states and target wealthy areas to encourage more tourism to generate more income for for the state? Some might even invest. Everyone needs to complain to state government and senators.
Is it worst than Detroit, Michigan? Do you have to worry about getting shot dead? If so, which town?
You also have Belfast on your list as a best place to retire!
https://www.homesnacks.com/best-places-to-retire-in-maine/
So which is it?
Can’t trust anything from this now.
The problem here is the government is cruel and don’t do anything about more education and the rich are in charge of the state and county. Wages are low and lots of unemployment. Due to mostly seasonal work and winter kills everything. It’s becoming a welfare state and high unemployment rates. The state is overcrowded with more people then jobs. Manufacturing and forestry is a dying industry. Run down mill towns and taxpayers are strapped and county management is not in the best interest of the people. Wasteful spending in the wrong areas and government and state city salaries are on the rise and no end in sight. Instead of better courses and programs for work employment. And the cost of education is high. It’s only affordable for the well off and rich. And most towns and city’s are dirty in winter because of all the sand and salt. Which they don’t need and save money. Also all the damage it does to property and cars. Maine’s wildlife is miss managed and all the animals are dying off and being killed in large numbers. Most of the Maine city streets need to be rebuilt and beautifullcation landscaping is a must. They are all ungly and all pavement and concrete and signs everywhere. No lighting that works on city streets that looks good. Anyway don’t move here we have no job for you look elsewhere.
I lived in Maine for 16 years and hated most of it! I realized how much I hate Winter living in that state! Winters are long – Late November thru late April most of the time. Bitter, damp cold, black ice on the roads and they aren’t plowed very well if at all, where I lived and worked. Which was Ellsworth when I left the state. I commuted to work in Southwest Harbor. I was a janitor at the Southwest Harbor Post Office. I also house cleaned. So I will say if you are in either of these lines of work, you can get paid well. I lived in Clifton, ME (which was a backwoods nightmare!), Corinth, ME (another backwoods nightmare!), Trenton, ME, and then Ellsworth, ME before moving home to MA. The people of Maine I found very nice and made some good friends, but depending on where you lived, there was a lot of “backwoods” uneducated mentality up there. A lot of areas have poor schools/education. Health care is a joke! Ellsworth is about 1/2 an hour from Acadia National Park. So in the Summer, traffic is terrible for those of us unfortunate enough to have to commute to work. The road designs are stupid. They actually cause accidents! When I left Ellsworth, just 3 months ago, the drug use and drug related crime was on the rise. Drug abuse in the state as a whole is on the rise. And I’m talking hard drugs like Heroin. Also abusing prescription painkillers like Oxycodon and Vicatin are becoming an epidemic there! The lack of enough sunlight causes a lot of people to have a vitamin D deficiency and there is a lot of Seasonal Effective Disorder up there. Not to mention it isn’t very hard to get state aid or disability up there so there are a lot of people in Maine who don’t work. And those that do don’t get paid enough compared to the cost of living. All in all, not what I would call a good place to live. The state’s motto is “The Way Life Should Be”. I’ve always called it “The Way Life SHOULD’NT Be!”
Unfortunately, towns and cities in Maine with the most money, get the most money. Some towns have custom sidewalks, entertainment for children and exciting recreation for locals and tourist. Many small towns in Maine have been on a steady rapid population decline and continue to decline rapidly. Many people do not work and find ways to scam the local, state, and federal government, many, many on illegitimate disability claims due to lack of employment and motivation (I don’t know how they survive because it is more difficult to be dependent on our systems than to find employment and work 60 hours per week). Jobs are scarce and if you do score a decent job it will likely not be your passion. People complain about the weather all of the time and the economy is flat and busted. Corporations and employers know they have the advantage and pay is not great either. It cost an average of $250 to $350 per month to heat your home about 8 months out of the year and I have excellent healthcare benefits but many qualified hospitals are over 3 hours away. It is very peaceful in Northern Maine and people have a lot of space. Land and homes are cheap! Really cheap!!! Land is being purchased and leased mostly by local farmers. Many locals tend to be very quick to turn down new innovative ideas and the close mindedness of the communities have just about destroyed any hope to rebuild at this time. I have lived in Northern Maine for 45 years and have been isolated to the rest of the country due to geographic location as well as mediocre income and expensive utilities and heating. Most of this is by choice on my part. By the way, Maine does not end in Portland or Bangor. There is life north of these cities believe it or not! We have a need to industry, we have a need for economy, and we have a need for quality residents but our towns continue to turn down great ideas. Our demise is ourselves! Overall my quality of life is good. I have raised a great family, have not been a victim of crime yet and education for my children has been strong thus far. FYI. My home in MA would be worth $250,000 to $400,000 and I will be lucky to sell it for $80,000 to $125,000 when it comes time to retire. Northern Maine is in BIG need of some open minded business owners, factories, and industry. We could use some people who say “YES” instead of “NO”.