Alaska
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Alaska vs Maine
Maine is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
Alaska
AK · West
10 / 32
metrics won
VS
Maine
ME · Northeast
22 / 32
metrics won
Winner
ME wins Housing
ME wins Quality of Life
ME wins Climate
ME wins Demographics
ME wins Income
AK wins Taxes
AK 10
22 ME
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Maine fits you better
Maine wins 22 of 32 scored metrics against Alaska.
Your match — Saving Money
Maine is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 110.3 in Maine vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
Maine has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.65/hr in Maine vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. Matters most for hourly and entry-level work. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 3.91x in Maine. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Weather
Maine is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 41.0°F in Maine vs 26.6°F in Alaska. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
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. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Maine
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Juneau
vs
Augusta
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Solid Blue
Population
738,003
1,421,310
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
$14.65/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
40.2 per sq mi
Statehood
January 3, 1959 (#49)
March 15, 1820 (#23)
Population
738,003
1,421,310
Population Density
1.1 per sq mi
40.2 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
32.2%
37.0%
Advanced Degree
12.2%
13.7%
Net Domestic Migration
-4,500
+7,400
Population Growth Since 2020
+0.6%
+4.3%
Livability Score
44.17
56.21
Best State to Live In
44.17
56.21
Cost of Living
125.8
110.3
Gas Price
$4.619/gal
$3.967/gal
Gas Tax
8.95 c/gal
30.00 c/gal
Electricity Rates
25.52 c/kWh
30.73 c/kWh
Commute Time
18.8 min
24.4 min
Car Insurance Cost
$1,679/yr
$1,251/yr
Average Credit Score
720
731
Average Temperature
26.6°F
41.0°F
Summer Temperature
52.3°F
63.7°F
Winter Temperature
2.6°F
16.8°F
Sunny Days
61 days
101 days
Annual Precipitation
22.5 in
42.2 in
Average Wind Speed
9.0 mph
8.4 mph
Lightning Density
0.3 per sq mi
4.3 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$316,400
$274,400
Median Gross Rent
$1,352/mo
$1,064/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$2,253/mo
$1,796/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$698/mo
$657/mo
Homeownership Rate
64.9%
72.2%
Home Value to Income Ratio
3.66x
3.91x
Rent to Income Ratio
18.7%
18.2%
Owner Costs to Income
16.8%
17.8%
Home Insurance Cost
$1,323/yr
$1,424/yr
State Income Tax
None (0%)
7.15%
State Sales Tax
None (0%)
5.50%
Property Tax
1.11%
1.02%
Total Tax Burden
4.92%
10.01%
Grocery Tax Rate
0% (No state tax)
0% (Exempt)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
Estate Tax Only
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
No
vs
Yes
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Solid Blue
Presidential Voting Margin
Rep +13.13
Dem +6.94
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Not a battleground
Governor Party
Republican
vs
Democratic
State House Control
Republican
vs
Democratic
State Senate Control
Republican
vs
Democratic
Trifecta
Republican Trifecta
vs
Democratic Trifecta
Electoral Votes
3
4
Gun Laws Status
Permissive
vs
Permissive
Alcohol Laws
License State
vs
Control State
Marijuana Legalization
Legal
vs
Legal
Minimum Marriage Age
16
18 (banned)
Gun Ownership
63.5%
40.0%
Abortion Law Status
Legal - No Limit (No limit)
vs
Legal - Viability (~24 weeks (viability))
Right-to-Work Law
No
vs
No
Land Area
663,268 sq mi
35,380 sq mi
Highest Point
Denali (Mount McKinley) (20,310 ft)
Mount Katahdin (5,268 ft)
Statehood
January 3, 1959 (#49)
March 15, 1820 (#23)
Capital City
Juneau
vs
Augusta
Region
West
vs
Northeast
Life Expectancy
75.4 yrs
78.7 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
45.5
66.9
Uninsured Rate
10.4%
5.9%
Obesity Rate
34.0%
33.2%
Healthcare Quality Score
27.8
57.2
Infant Mortality Rate
6.82 per 1,000
4.48 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
45.1 per 100,000
35.2 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
837.8 per 100k
109.8 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
1849.4 per 100k
1233.8 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
1
0
Casinos
2
2 (Hollywood Casino Bangor)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
113.8 per 100K
80.6 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Chevrolet
vs
Toyota
K-12 Education Rank
#48
#29
High School Graduation Rate
80.0%
88.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
11.9:1
School Spending
$20,340
$19,962
Teacher Salary
$81,450
$65,621
Public School Ranking
#49
#19
Student Loan Debt
$35,874
$34,355
College Graduation Rate
40.4%
57.7%
Median Income
$86,533
$70,171
Regional Price Parity
102.7
100.6
Purchasing Power of $100
$97.79
$103.77
Poverty Rate
10.4%
10.4%
Employment/Population Ratio
59.8%
60.0%
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
3.2%
Job Growth
-0.4%
-0.6%
Infant Childcare Cost
$20,943/yr
$13,310/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$100,298/yr
$96,595/yr
Water Quality Score
97.7/100 (A)
85.6/100 (A)
Annual Power Outage Hours
5.5 hours/yr
29.1 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#32
#18
Renewable Electricity Share
2.7%
40.4%
Largest Airport
Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC)
vs
Portland International Jetport (PWM)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alaska
Pros
- Alaska has a lower housing cost index.
- Alaska shows higher median income.
- Alaska job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alaska has higher median home values.
- Alaska has higher property tax rates on average.
- Alaska has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alaska health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alaska health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Maine
Pros
- Maine has a lower overall cost of living.
- Maine has lower median home values.
- Maine has lower property tax rates on average.
- Maine has a lower violent crime rate.
- Maine health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Maine health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Maine has a higher housing cost index.
- Maine shows lower median income.
- Maine job growth trend is weaker.
People also ask
Alaska vs Maine — common questions
QIs 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.
QWhere does $100 go further - Alaska or Maine?
$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
QWhich 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.
QDoes Alaska or Maine have more people?
Maine has the larger population at 1,421,310, compared with 738,003 in Alaska.
QWhich state has higher household income - Alaska or Maine?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $70,171 in Maine.
QWhich state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Maine?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Maine charges up to 7.15%.
QIs housing cheaper in Alaska or Maine?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
QWhich state is more densely populated - Alaska or Maine?
Maine is more densely populated at 40.2 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
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.