2026 ranking

Best small towns to live in Maine

The 25 Maine small towns with the best mix of affordability, safety, schools and jobs, picked from 51 real small towns of 1,000 to 15,000 people — not suburbs.

1
Houlton, ME Score 70/100
5,082 people · typical home $130k · household income $59k · 42 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of ME · 13.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital
2
Calais, ME Score 69/100
3,097 people · typical home $111k · household income $64k · 68 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of ME · 6.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital
3
Dover-Foxcroft, ME Score 67/100
2,745 people · typical home $159k · household income $56k · 9 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 60% of ME · 4.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital
4
Richmond, ME Score 64/100
2,089 people · typical home $221k · household income $73k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 24% of ME · 5.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital
5
Winthrop, ME Score 64/100
3,108 people · typical home $245k · household income $61k · 19 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of ME · 5.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital
6
Camden, ME Score 63/100
3,682 people · typical home $499k · household income $79k · 20 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 5% of ME · 6.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital
7
Oakland, ME Score 61/100
2,710 people · typical home $167k · household income $45k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 52% of ME · 1.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital
8
Mexico, ME Score 60/100
2,142 people · typical home $109k · household income $51k · 61 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 79% of ME · 2.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital
9
Topsham, ME Score 60/100
7,271 people · typical home $389k · household income $100k · 30 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 35% of ME · 5.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital
10
Norridgewock, ME Score 60/100
1,378 people · typical home $148k · household income $67k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 42% of ME · 3.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital
11
Randolph, ME Score 59/100
1,610 people · typical home $174k · household income $67k · 80 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 50% of ME · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital
12
Madawaska, ME Score 59/100
3,022 people · typical home $158k · household income $56k · 58 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of ME · 8.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital
13
East Millinocket, ME Score 58/100
1,495 people · typical home $86k · household income $42k · 17 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 94% of ME · 6.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital
14
Fairfield, ME Score 58/100
2,356 people · typical home $140k · household income $52k · 54 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 70% of ME · 3.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital
15
Presque Isle, ME Score 57/100
8,736 people · typical home $147k · household income $56k · 199 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of ME · 4.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital
16
Madison, ME Score 56/100
2,676 people · typical home $164k · household income $62k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 57% of ME · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital
17
Hallowell, ME Score 56/100
2,592 people · typical home $295k · household income $68k · 34 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 59% of ME · 1.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital
18
Fort Kent, ME Score 56/100
2,398 people · typical home $153k · household income $51k · 87 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of ME · 2.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital
19
Skowhegan, ME Score 55/100
6,662 people · typical home $156k · household income $45k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 42% of ME · 3.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital
20
Van Buren, ME Score 54/100
1,634 people · typical home $98k · household income $39k · 69 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 67% of ME · 2.0% unemployment · 18 mi to a hospital
21
Bar Harbor, ME Score 54/100
2,296 people · typical home $627k · household income $68k · 47 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of ME · 10.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital
22
Ellsworth, ME Score 53/100
8,657 people · typical home $242k · household income $77k · 59 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 58% of ME · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital
23
Waldoboro, ME Score 53/100
1,459 people · typical home $292k · household income $69k · 64 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 56% of ME · 1.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital
24
Lincoln, ME Score 53/100
2,954 people · typical home $142k · household income $49k · 36 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 79% of ME · 5.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital
25
Limestone, ME Score 52/100
1,079 people · typical home $97k · household income $53k · 69 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 94% of ME · 4.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Maine with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Maine on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Maine districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

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