If you’ve just wrapped up your career and are looking for the perfect place to retire in the Pine Tree State, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the best places for retirement in Maine to help make your choice.
Maine is the second safest state in America, so you won’t have to worry about crime in your golden years.
Then there’s the natural beauty. If swimming in emerald mountain springs by day and camping out near moose-frequented lakes sound like your cup of tea, then Maine’s Acadia National Park is sure to be a constant summer favorite in your retirement. And if, after tackling all your career goals, you need a new challenge, hiking Baxter State Park’s Mt. Katahdin is sure to boost your sense of accomplishment.
Where is the best place to start enjoying lighthouses, lobsters, and blueberry pancakes in your retirement years? Take a look below to find out.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maine For 2024
Maine has a lot going on for retirees, and the cities you see above are the best of the best when it comes to planning your retirement.
What city is the best for retirement in Maine? According to the data, Belfast is the best place to retire in Maine for 2024.
How’d we come up with this list? We narrowed our search down to the 28 cities in Maine with a population of at least 5,000. Then we used Saturday Night Science to compare at data from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights. Finally, we ranked each city to according to crime, affordability, median age, weather, and access to things to do.
Many of the cities on this list are located close to Portland.
Look below to see a complete list of how Maine’s cities fared.
Why did Belfast take the top spot? And where are Portland and Lewiston?
For more Maine state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Maine
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maine
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maine For 2024
/10
Population: 6,953
Median Income: $53,925
Median Home Price: $360,086
Median Rent: $902
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Belfast: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,454
Median Income: $47,803
Median Home Price: $156,013
Median Rent: $636
Distance to Closest Airport: 84 miles
More on Caribou: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,775
Median Income: $63,023
Median Home Price: $335,573
Median Rent: $934
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Bath: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,116
Median Income: $52,718
Median Home Price: $287,488
Median Rent: $1,044
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Orono: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,000
Median Income: $88,996
Median Home Price: $582,169
Median Rent: $1,159
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Kennebunk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,772
Median Income: $52,109
Median Home Price: $169,472
Median Rent: $812
Distance to Closest Airport: 40 miles
More on Presque Isle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,478
Median Income: $61,233
Median Home Price: $338,561
Median Rent: $885
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Ellsworth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,040
Median Income: $62,335
Median Home Price: $455,746
Median Rent: $1,017
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Old Orchard Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,270
Median Income: $46,613
Median Home Price: $212,242
Median Rent: $825
Distance to Closest Airport: 43 miles
More on Skowhegan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,937
Median Income: $89,770
Median Home Price: $719,413
Median Rent: $1,567
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Yarmouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Pine Tree State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Maine to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Pine Tree State — 132 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 5,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 28 places from across the state.
For these 28, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 28, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Belfast, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Maine.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Maine Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Maine goes to Belfast.
The best places to retire in Maine are Belfast, Caribou, Bath, Orono, Kennebunk, Presque Isle, Ellsworth, Old Orchard Beach, Skowhegan, and Yarmouth.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Waterville
- Auburn
- Biddeford
For more Maine reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Maine
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast | 6,953 | $53,925 | $360,086 | $902 |
| 2 | Caribou | 7,454 | $47,803 | $156,013 | $636 |
| 3 | Bath | 8,775 | $63,023 | $335,573 | $934 |
| 4 | Orono | 10,116 | $52,718 | $287,488 | $1,044 |
| 5 | Kennebunk | 6,000 | $88,996 | $582,169 | $1,159 |
| 6 | Presque Isle | 8,772 | $52,109 | $169,472 | $812 |
| 7 | Ellsworth | 8,478 | $61,233 | $338,561 | $885 |
| 8 | Old Orchard Beach | 9,040 | $62,335 | $455,746 | $1,017 |
| 9 | Skowhegan | 6,270 | $46,613 | $212,242 | $825 |
| 10 | Yarmouth | 5,937 | $89,770 | $719,413 | $1,567 |