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METRO AREA

Portland Metro

Portland-South Portland, ME · 3 counties · 577,635 residents (2025 est.) · 2,081.368 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#23Lowest poverty rateof 9257.6%#32Most work-from-homeof 92519.5%#42Most educatedof 92546.0%
The short version

Portland is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $92,328. Population has grown 15% since 2000. 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $422,019. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
562,843
+15%since 2000
from 487,568 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
270 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 234 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.7
+15%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:577,635 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
429K466K502K539K575K1990201020202024Portland
2024563K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$92,328
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,733 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$52,055
+130%since 2000
from $22,648 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.8%
+25.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
+5%since 2010
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$422,019
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $124,324 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,460
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $592 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
26.8% rent
Vacancy rate
16.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.3%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.6
+61%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
83
RELATED:See current rent listings in Portland on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(467,963)
Black0.8%(3,749)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(4,218)
Asian1.1%(5,250)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.7%(32,865)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(493,877)
Black2.3%(13,104)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(14,140)
Asian1.7%(9,346)
Other5.8%(32,376)
Diversity Score28.2%(158,505)
Segregation Score25.8%(145,406)
Diversity Score
28
+318%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
26
−17%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.0%
+16.8 ptssince 2000
from 29.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.2%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 88.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.9%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.1 min
+60%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.4%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
19.5%
+14.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 68.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.8%
−18.2 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
5.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−40.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−86.3 ptssince 2013
from 91.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.8%
+10.1 ptssince 2017
from 82.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 92.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

PortlandCENTRAL69,911South PortlandCENTRAL27,007
What's inside

3 component counties

Cumberland CountyCENTRAL317,222York CountyCENTRAL222,434Sagadahoc County37,979
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Portland

New Haven
Pop 578,741
Reno
Pop 578,734
Lancaster
Pop 563,159
Huntsville
Pop 556,444
Places similar to Portland
Head to head

Compare Portland side by side

PORTLAND VS
New Haven
Income$88,197−4%
Home value$353,100−16%
Population578,741same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTLAND VS
Reno
Income$87,337−5%
Home value$520,025+23%
Population578,734same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTLAND VS
Lancaster
Income$86,959−6%
Home value$301,100−29%
Population563,159−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTLAND VS
Huntsville
Income$85,881−7%
Home value$295,284−30%
Population556,444−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Portland-South Portland, ME?

Portland-South Portland, ME has about 562,843 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Portland-South Portland, ME?

The typical household in Portland-South Portland, ME earns about $92,328 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Portland-South Portland, ME expensive?

In Portland-South Portland, ME, the median home is worth about $422,019, and the typical rent is about $1,460 a month.

How educated are people in Portland-South Portland, ME?

About 46.0% of adults age 25 and over in Portland-South Portland, ME hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Portland-South Portland, ME?

About 7.6% of people in Portland-South Portland, ME live below the federal poverty line.

Has Portland-South Portland, ME grown since 1990?

Yes, Portland-South Portland, ME has grown since 1990. The population has added about 121,586 residents, a change of about 28 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →