Population 27,120 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Portland
Household size in South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in South Portland are small: just 2.21 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. Household size has edged down from 2.27 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
South Portland skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.2, against 40.1 nationally. Still, the population here is younger than in Maine as a whole, where the median age is 45.0. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, in line with the national trend.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.9% of households in South Portland, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Portland has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Maine cities.
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 South Portland
Renters in South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.6% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.2% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.5% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.8% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in South Portland rent their homes (41.8%), above the national share of 34.8%. Just over three in ten owners (31.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the east. The renter share is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in South Portland than nationally: 5.8%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. South Portland has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Maine cities.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
South Portland is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $877 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,006 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,327 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,760 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$883 | +$464 | +$606 |
The median renter in South Portland pays $1,760 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $883 a month from 2006–10, a 101% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 South Portland
Bachelor's degrees in South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.9% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.6% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in South Portland: 50.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.4 points, as it has nationally.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.4% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in South Portland: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Maine as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.1 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 South Portland
| Period | South Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Portland has been low: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland | 2.21 | 42.2 | 5.9% | 41.8% | 5.8% | 1964 | $1,760 | 50.6% | 95.5% | 2.7% |
| Cape Elizabeth | 2.56 | 47.4 | 5.0% | 11.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $2,005 | 74.1% | 99.2% | 2.5% |
| Portland | 2.10 | 39.0 | 7.3% | 53.7% | 8.4% | 1955 | $1,590 | 59.6% | 96.5% | 4.0% |
| Cash Corner | 2.66 | 48.1 | 7.9% | 19.7% | 2.4% | 1966 | $2,004 | 58.0% | 99.7% | 6.2% |
| Peaks Island | 2.03 | 62.0 | 4.4% | 11.1% | 59.3% | 1938 | $1,502 | 71.9% | 97.2% | 1.9% |
| Scarborough | 2.32 | 50.4 | 7.3% | 22.5% | 10.9% | 1990 | $2,102 | 57.3% | 98.8% | 2.5% |
| Westbrook | 2.33 | 40.2 | 9.5% | 36.2% | 6.5% | 1971 | $1,529 | 40.6% | 96.4% | 2.4% |
| Long Island | 2.15 | 48.8 | 2.6% | 18.9% | 71.2% | 1938 | $1,938 | 51.5% | 97.8% | 0.6% |
| Falmouth | 2.58 | 47.6 | 6.1% | 15.6% | 6.8% | 1986 | $2,431 | 72.9% | 98.1% | 2.5% |
| Cliff Island | 2.15 | 48.8 | 2.6% | 18.9% | 71.2% | 1938 | $1,938 | 51.5% | 97.8% | 0.6% |
| Cumberland Foreside | 2.52 | 54.1 | 6.4% | 21.8% | 22.2% | 1977 | $1,971 | 76.2% | 98.9% | 0.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fremont, OH · Tarpon Springs, FL · Tahlequah, OK · Stoughton, MA · Sachse, TX · Royse City, TX · Ravenna, OH · Ramsey, MN · Hazelwood, MO · Harvest, AL
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 South 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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