Population 67,935 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Portland
Household size in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.12 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.10 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Portland are small: just 2.10 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.1 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.6 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.0 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.0 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Portland are younger than 39.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Maine as a whole, where the median age is 45.0. The median age has climbed from 38.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.3% of households in Portland, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Portland
Renters in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.5% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 56.9% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.5% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.7% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Portland rent: 53.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. More than a third of owners (35.8%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. No other Maine city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Portland as nationally: 8.4%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Maine as a whole (16.4%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Portland is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1955, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center. Only two of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $870 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $942 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,104 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,590 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$720 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Portland costs $1,590 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in Maine as a whole ($1,230). Rents are up $720 a month from 2006–10, an 83% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Portland
Bachelor's degrees in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.6% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +17.5 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Portland is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (59.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 17.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.6% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.9% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Portland: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Portland
| Period | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Portland runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.7 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Portland compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 2.10 | 39.0 | 7.3% | 53.7% | 8.4% | 1955 | $1,590 | 59.6% | 96.5% | 4.0% |
| South Portland | 2.21 | 42.2 | 5.9% | 41.8% | 5.8% | 1964 | $1,760 | 50.6% | 95.5% | 2.7% |
| Falmouth | 2.58 | 47.6 | 6.1% | 15.6% | 6.8% | 1986 | $2,431 | 72.9% | 98.1% | 2.5% |
| Peaks Island | 2.03 | 62.0 | 4.4% | 11.1% | 59.3% | 1938 | $1,502 | 71.9% | 97.2% | 1.9% |
| Westbrook | 2.33 | 40.2 | 9.5% | 36.2% | 6.5% | 1971 | $1,529 | 40.6% | 96.4% | 2.4% |
| Cape Elizabeth | 2.56 | 47.4 | 5.0% | 11.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $2,005 | 74.1% | 99.2% | 2.5% |
| Cash Corner | 2.66 | 48.1 | 7.9% | 19.7% | 2.4% | 1966 | $2,004 | 58.0% | 99.7% | 6.2% |
| Long Island | 2.15 | 48.8 | 2.6% | 18.9% | 71.2% | 1938 | $1,938 | 51.5% | 97.8% | 0.6% |
| Scarborough | 2.32 | 50.4 | 7.3% | 22.5% | 10.9% | 1990 | $2,102 | 57.3% | 98.8% | 2.5% |
| Cumberland Foreside | 2.52 | 54.1 | 6.4% | 21.8% | 22.2% | 1977 | $1,971 | 76.2% | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Gorham | 2.46 | 37.6 | 8.0% | 20.4% | 3.9% | 1987 | $1,712 | 44.4% | 98.1% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Syracuse, NY · Tallahassee, FL · Tacoma, WA · Springfield, MA · Stamford, CT · Spring Valley, NV · Summerville, SC · St. Paul, MN · Stockbridge, GA · Statesville, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Portland. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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