 Portland is Maine's business, financial and retail capital and the largest city in the state. Seascapes and cityscapes blend harmoniously in Portland, perched on a peninsula, jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay.
The metropolitan hub of Maine's south coast region, Portland is a lively city incorporating the character of yesteryear into a modern urban environment. Historic architecture blends gracefully with the new as you stroll along her working waterfront or the cobblestone streets of the restored Old Port section of the city. With a metro population of 230,000, the Greater Portland area is home to almost one quarter of Maine's total population. The population of the city is 64,000. The Portland economy is consistent and economic development is encouraged. Bumper-to-bumper traffic and gridlock are unheard of. Portland is an easygoing city with friendly, hardworking people. According to recent crime statistics, Maine is one of the safest states in America. Housing is affordable. Schools and healthcare are outstanding. Our urban center is minutes from golf, hiking and boating. Recreation, entertainment, scenery, culture - we've got the market cornered. Just ask the 3.6 million tourists who visit each year. And, the same things that attract vacationers make Portland a wonderful place to live, to work and to do business. To get acquainted with our city, take a Self-Guided Walking Tour!  Ranked fourth in the 1998 book, The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, Portland supports a vibrant community of visual and performing artists not to mention an incredible night scene. Portland’s most recent accolade includes a number 14 ranking on the Miliken Institute’s coveted “Best Performing Cities Index” and it is the only northeastern city to make the top 20. The city also holds many other national awards. Inc. Magazine has also named the Portland Metro Region one of the top twenty-five places in the US in which to do business. This exclusive list ranks more than 270 large, medium and small cities. For a complete list and the top Reasons to choose Portland... [Learn More]
Portland holds a key place in a business corridor extending from New York to Atlantic Canada. At the same time, we offer a welcome relief from big-city life. The Old Port, an exciting section of the downtown Peninsula that has seen considerable renovation of the years, is known for intimate shops with everything from apparel and fine china to children's toys and antiques and rare books. A few blocks down Congress Street is the Arts District, home to the Portland Ballet Company, the Maine College of Art and the Portland Museum of Art. | Demographic Statistics | | Portland | | National Avg | | | | | | | | Rainfall (inches) | | 43.2 | | 36.6 | | Snowfall (inches) | | 71.5 | | 25.2 | | Precipitation Days | | 131 | | 101 | | Sunny Days | | 203 | | 205 | | Comfort Index | | 56 | | 44 | | Elevation (feet) | | 45 | | 1,062 | | Air Quality | | 18 | | 48 | | Water Quality | | 70 | | 55 | | Sales Tax | | 5% | | 6% | | Property Tax Rate (per $1,000) | | 17.10 | | 13.28 | | Commute Time (minutes) | | 20.5 | | 27.4 | | Cost of Living | | 103% | | 100 |
| Portland, Maine - Community Resources |
For more Portland information, including entertainment, dining, city services, education and home sales statistics, follow any of the links below:  | | ... Portland Local Area Resources | | | | | | | | Portland, Maine offers a unique combination of big city life with an intimate, small city feel. Everything is close and accessible. Only 1.5 hours from Boston, Portland offers all the amenities of a larger urban area but within a short drive, one can be strolling through the Maine woods, canoeing down a river, or skiing some of the most thrilling mountains in New England. [Learn More] | | | | |  | | ... Portland Education Services & Schools | | | | | | | | Maine's largest and most diverse school district services 7,500 students from kindergarten through 12th grade and offers continuing education to about 6,000 adult learners. [Learn More] | | | | |  | | ... Portland Homes Sales & Statistics | | | | | | | | Portland has historicially been a dynamic housing market. As the area's largest city, it offers the widest variety of homes, condos, multi-family and commercial properties. Prices have appreciated significantly over the last several years, as the following home sales reports indicate. [Learn More] |
| Relocation to Portland & Southern Maine |
 If you are considering a move to Portland or the Southern Maine area, be sure to take advantage of our online Relocation Services, a comprehensive guide to interactive relocation tools.
Our services include access to local market information, neighborhood and school comparisons and a wealth of proven home buying advice. If you are interested in receiving automatic email alerts of properties that match your predetermined buying requirements, you might want to consider our Market Watch feature. This is a great way to stay current with the market whether you are buying now or in the future. |
