Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Maine
Maine is cheaper overall, while Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
VS
Maine
ME • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
56.21
Alaska
10
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Maine
20
/ 30
metrics won
ME wins Housing
ME wins Quality of Life
ME wins Climate
ME wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Maine
winner
Maine scores higher on quality of life — 12.04 points difference.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Maine
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Maine is about 19 times smaller than Alaska.
- Maine has a larger population than Alaska by 628,968 people.
- Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Maine is 15.5 points cheaper overall
Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Income
Alaska income is 23.3% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
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Jobs
Maine minimum wage is $2.10 higher
Maine has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.10/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Alaska homes cost about 1.2x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
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Taxes
Alaska has lower state income tax
Alaska has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
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Cost of Driving
Maine gas is about $0.65 cheaper
Maine has the lower regular gas price at $3.967/gal, versus $4.619/gal in Alaska.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
ME
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Augusta |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
1,362,359
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$70,171
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
110.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$274,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
1.02%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
7.15%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$15.10/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.967/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
56.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
41.0°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
101 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
35,380 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
Saving Money
Maine is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 110.3 vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Maine is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.967/gal in Maine vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Maine has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.10/hr in Maine vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Alaska has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 25.52 c/kWh in Alaska vs 30.73 c/kWh in Maine. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 3.91x in Maine. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Maine is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.2% in Maine vs 18.7% in Alaska. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Maine has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.02% in Maine vs 1.11% in Alaska. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
Maine votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Dem +6.94 in Maine vs Rep +13.13 in Alaska.
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Alcohol Laws
Maine uses a control-state system
Maine uses a control-state system for liquor sales, while Alaska uses a license-state system.
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Lower Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska charges no state income tax. Maine levies up to 7.15% at the top marginal rate.
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More Space
Alaska feels less crowded
Population density: 1.1 per sq mi in Alaska vs 38.5 per sq mi in Maine. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Alaska has the shorter commute
Average commute: 18.8 min in Alaska vs 24.4 min in Maine.
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Job Opportunities
Maine looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 3.2% in Maine vs 4.8% in Alaska.
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Remote Workers
Maine looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 56.21 in Maine vs 44.17 in Alaska.
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Families
Maine looks better for families
Maine wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Alaska.
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Warmer Climate
Maine is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 41.0°F in Maine vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
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More Sunshine
Maine gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 101 days in Maine vs 61 days in Alaska.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Maine - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Maine?
Maine has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Maine scores 110.3 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 15.5 points.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Maine?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 35,380 sq mi for Maine - roughly 18.7x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Maine have more people?
Maine has the larger population at 1,362,359, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Maine?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $70,171 in Maine.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Maine?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Maine charges up to 7.15%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Maine?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Maine?
Maine is more densely populated at 38.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alaska is more spread out at 1.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset, with minimum wage data from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.