Florida
FL • South
Quality of Life Score
58.51
State Comparison
Florida vs Maine
Florida is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Florida, Maine has higher incomes, Florida has lower state income tax, and Florida has the warmer climate.
Florida
11
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Maine
19
/ 30
metrics won
ME wins Housing
FL wins Quality of Life
ME wins Income
FL wins Climate
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Florida
winner
vs
Maine
Florida scores higher on quality of life — 2.30 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
Florida is 9.8 points cheaper overall
Florida has the lower cost-of-living index. Florida is at 100.5, while Maine is at 110.3.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $2.68 further in Florida
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $106.45 of local buying power in Florida, versus $103.77 in Maine.
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Income
Maine income is 3.3% higher
Maine has the higher median household income at $70,171, compared with $67,917 in Florida.
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Jobs
Maine has the higher minimum wage
Maine has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.65/hr, compared with $14.00/hr in Florida.
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Housing
Florida homes cost about 1.3x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $348,000 in Florida.
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Taxes
Florida has lower state income tax
Florida 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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Florida
- 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 (100.7 for Florida, 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.
Florida
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Florida
- Florida has a lower overall cost of living.
- Florida has lower property tax rates on average.
- Florida job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Florida has a higher housing cost index.
- Florida has higher median home values.
- Florida shows lower median income.
- Florida has a higher violent crime rate.
- Florida health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Florida health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Maine
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Maine
- Maine has a lower housing cost index.
- Maine has lower median home values.
- Maine shows higher median income.
- 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 overall cost of living.
- Maine has higher property tax rates on average.
- Maine job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
FL
|
ME
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Tallahassee | Augusta |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
21,538,187
|
1,362,359
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,917
|
$70,171
|
|
Cost of Living
|
100.5
|
110.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$348,000
|
$274,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.76%
|
1.02%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
7.15%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.00/hr
|
$14.65/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.198/gal
|
$3.967/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
15.92 c/kWh
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
58.51
|
56.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
70.7°F
|
41.0°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
101 days
|
|
Land Area
|
65,758 sq mi
|
35,380 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
327.5 per sq mi
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 3, 1845 (#27)
|
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
Florida is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 100.5 vs 110.3 in Maine. 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 $4.198/gal in Florida. 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 $14.00/hr in Florida. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Florida has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.92 c/kWh in Florida 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
Maine is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.91x in Maine vs 5.12x in Florida. 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 25.5% in Florida. 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
Florida vs Maine - Common Questions
Q Is Florida cheaper to live in than Maine?
Florida has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Florida scores 100.5 versus 110.3 for Maine - a gap of 9.8 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Florida or Maine?
$100 goes further in Florida. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $106.45 in Florida, compared with $103.77 in Maine.
Q Which state is bigger - Florida or Maine?
Florida is larger, covering 65,758 sq mi compared with 35,380 sq mi for Maine - roughly 1.9x the size.
Q Does Florida or Maine have more people?
Florida has the larger population at 21,538,187, compared with 1,362,359 in Maine.
Q Which state has higher household income - Florida or Maine?
Maine has the higher median household income at $70,171, versus $67,917 in Florida.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Florida or Maine?
Florida has no state income tax, while Maine charges up to 7.15%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Florida or Maine?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $348,000 in Florida.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Florida or Maine?
Florida is more densely populated at 327.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Maine is more spread out at 38.5 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.