Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
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
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.
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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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.98 further in Maine
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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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 $1.65 higher
Maine has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.65/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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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Alaska
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Maine
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (102.7 for Alaska, 100.6 for Maine). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alaska
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alaska
- 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
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Maine
- 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.
Full 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
|
$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
|
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.
6
of
17
shown
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: $14.65/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.
See full data
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.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
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 Where 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.
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; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes 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.