MAIN Home Life House & Home Moving Maine

Known for its lobsters, spectacular coastal whale watching, as well as its inland mountains and acres of pine forest, Maine is the most northern of the New England states and the eastern United States.

Its mix of coast, forest and mountains also make tourism an important revenue source, with millions of tourists per year attracted to the state's prime areas for fishing, swimming, boating, and world class Maine ski resorts.

While the attractions of Boston are a 1 1/2 hour drive away from Portland, a wide range of activities are also offered in and around Maine's major cultural hub long after the summer season ends.

Maine's traditional industries center around lumber and agriculture, and major crops comprise wild blueberries, apples, potatoes, and maple sugar. Major employers headquartered in Maine include clothing maker L.L. Bean (Freeport), Fairchild Semiconductor (South Portland), software developer DeLorme, (Yarmouth) and food retailer Hannaford (Scarborough). Summer also booms with part-time and full-time seasonal jobs at national parks, ski resorts, resorts, and summer camps.

Although many northeasterners may in some respects consider Maine a backwater, the state is often touted for its unique quality of life and shared history. "As Maine goes so goes the nation" is the well-worn phrase when it comes to presidential elections. Meanwhile, the state's cost of living index is on also par with the rest of the nation as it levies some of the highest average property taxes in US.

Maine quality-of-life statistics

Demographics : (Maine Census Data)
Major cities: Augusta (capital), Portland, Bangor
Population : 1,321,574
White : 96.9%
Black, African American : 0.8%
Hispanic : 1.0%
High school graduates : 85.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher : 22.9%
Average household income: $41,287

Cost of Living: Compared to the rest of the country, Maine's cost of living is approximately on par, or about 1 % lower than the U.S. average.

Property Taxes : Maine Tax Climate - Maine ranks 6th nationwide or among the nation's highest in property taxes, collecting $1,596 per capita in FY 2004.

Housing & Real Estate Overview
Home ownership rate : 71.6%
Average home price: $210,700
Average travel time to work : 22.7 minutes

Personal Income Taxes: Maine's tax system has four income brackets, with tax rates ranging from 2 percent to 8.5 percent. Residents must file state taxes using Form 1040ME each year by April 15.

Schools : As in the rest of the US, schools vary depending on zip code and the local tax base, with better public and private schools found in and around major towns and cities. see Maine Department of Education

Weather : Like most of the north and especially New England, Maine is warm and humid in the summer, and cold and snowy in the winter with somewhat warmer winter temperatures near the coast.

Crime : see Maine Crime Rates

also see -> Maine taxes | Maine eviction laws | Maine tourism

Maine fall foliage | Maine beaches | Maine shopping outlets

Maine kids party locations

More about relocating to Maine around the Web:

Living in Bangor - Official city government site with information on the local economy and cost of living, health & education, parks & recreation, local transportation services.

Living in the City of Portland Maine - A-Z guide from the official Portland city government site with a virtual Portland tour, city maps, information on neighborhood organizations, and links to area hospitals, transportation services, media and newspapers.

Relocate to Maine - Greater Portland Casco Bay - Links, information & contact details for real estate, apartment rental brokers and extended stay locations, from the Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Maine real estate, apartments & job classifieds:

Augusta : Kennebec Journal
Bangor : Daily News
Portland : Press Herald