State Comparison

Maine vs Massachusetts

Maine is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Massachusetts has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.

Maine

ME • Northeast

Overall winner

Quality of Life Score

56.21

Massachusetts

MA • Northeast

Quality of Life Score

60.23

Maine

17 / 30

metrics won

Wins

Score

Massachusetts

13 / 30

metrics won

ME wins Housing

ME wins Quality of Life

MA wins Climate

MA wins Demographics

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

Maine

56.21

Massachusetts winner

60.23

Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 4.02 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 38.5 points cheaper overall

Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $8.22 further in Maine

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.

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Income

Massachusetts income is 37.5% higher

Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $70,171 in Maine.

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Jobs

Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage

Massachusetts has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $14.65/hr in Maine.

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Housing

Massachusetts homes cost about 1.9x more

Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.

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Taxes

Massachusetts has lower state income tax

Massachusetts has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.00%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.

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Take-Home Calculator

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Maine

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 7.2%): —
After state tax: —
Real buying power (BEA RPP): —

Massachusetts

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 5.0%): —
After state tax: —
Real buying power (BEA RPP): —

Cost-of-Living Equivalent

—

* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (100.6 for Maine, 110.4 for Massachusetts). 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.

Maine

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: Maine

Maine has a lower overall cost of living.
Maine has a lower housing cost index.
Maine has lower median home values.
Maine has lower property tax rates on average.
Maine has a lower violent crime rate.
Maine has more sunny days.

Cons

Maine shows lower median income.
Maine job growth trend is weaker.
Maine health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Maine health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Maine education proxy is lower.

Massachusetts

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: Massachusetts

Massachusetts shows higher median income.
Massachusetts job growth trend is stronger.
Massachusetts health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Massachusetts health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Massachusetts education proxy is higher.

Cons

Massachusetts has a higher overall cost of living.
Massachusetts has a higher housing cost index.
Massachusetts has higher median home values.
Massachusetts has higher property tax rates on average.
Massachusetts has a higher violent crime rate.
Massachusetts has fewer sunny days.

Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Augusta	Boston	Details ->
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Blue	Details ->
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	1,362,359	7,029,917	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$70,171	$96,505	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	110.3	148.8	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$274,400	$510,400	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	1.02%	1.07%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	7.15%	5.00%	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$14.65/hr	$15.00/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.967/gal	$3.933/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	30.73 c/kWh	31.16 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	56.21	60.23	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	41.0°F	47.9°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	101 days	98 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	35,380 sq mi	10,554 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	38.5 per sq mi	666.1 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	March 15, 1820 (#23)	February 6, 1788 (#6)	Details ->

Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	1,362,359	7,029,917	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	38.5 per sq mi	666.1 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	37.0%	47.8%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	13.7%	22.4%	Details ->

Population -> Population Density -> Bachelor's Degree -> Advanced Degree ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$14.65/hr	$15.00/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	56.21	60.23	Details ->
Best State to Live In Composite living score for comparing states to live in, based on the existing livability score.	56.21	60.23	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	110.3	148.8	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.967/gal	$3.933/gal	Details ->
Gas Tax State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.	30.00 c/gal	24.00 c/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	30.73 c/kWh	31.16 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	24.4 min	30.4 min	Details ->

Livability Score -> Best State to Live In -> Cost of Living -> Gas Price -> Gas Tax -> Electricity Rates -> Commute Time ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	41.0°F	47.9°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	63.7°F	68.0°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	16.8°F	27.4°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	101 days	98 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	42.2 in	47.7 in	Details ->

Average Temperature -> Summer Temperature -> Winter Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Annual Precipitation ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$274,400	$510,400	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$1,064/mo	$1,678/mo	Details ->
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households with a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Owner Costs Without Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households without a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Homeownership Rate Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied.	72.2%	62.8%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	3.91x	5.29x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	18.2%	20.9%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	17.8%	19.5%	Details ->

Median Housing Value -> Median Gross Rent -> Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage -> Owner Costs Without Mortgage -> Homeownership Rate -> Home Value to Income Ratio -> Rent to Income Ratio -> Owner Costs to Income ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	7.15%	5.00%	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	5.50%	6.25%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	1.02%	1.07%	Details ->

State Income Tax -> State Sales Tax -> Property Tax ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Blue	Details ->
Presidential Voting Margin Signed 2024 presidential margin in percentage points (positive = Democratic, negative = Republican).	Dem +6.94	Dem +25.20	Details ->
Swing State / Battleground Whether the state was part of the core 2024 battleground map.	Not a battleground	Not a battleground	Details ->
Governor Party Current governor's party (NCSL partisan composition, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
State House Control Current partisan control of the lower legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
State Senate Control Current partisan control of the upper legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
Trifecta Whether one party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic Trifecta	Democratic Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Gun Laws Status Simplified statewide gun-law label based on current Giffords grades: A to B = Restrictive, C to F = Permissive (scorecard modified February 20, 2026).	Permissive	Restrictive	Details ->
Alcohol Laws Whether the state uses a control-state or license-state model for distilled-spirit sales (NABCA directory accessed April 6, 2026).	Control State	License State	Details ->
Marijuana Legalization Current statewide marijuana status: Legal, Medical, or Illegal (NCSL state cannabis laws page updated June 27, 2025).	Legal	Legal	Details ->
Minimum Marriage Age Minimum marriage age with statutory exceptions. California has no statutory minimum age.	18 (banned)	18 (banned)	Details ->

Minimum Marriage Age ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	35,380 sq mi	10,554 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Mount Katahdin (5,268 ft)	Mount Greylock (3,491 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	March 15, 1820 (#23)	February 6, 1788 (#6)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Augusta	Boston	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	Northeast	Northeast	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	78.7 yrs	80.0 yrs	Details ->
Older Adult Health Outcomes Composite score for comparing state health outcomes for older adults, using life expectancy, insurance coverage, and obesity prevalence.	66.9	88.9	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	5.9%	2.6%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	33.2%	27.0%	Details ->

Life Expectancy -> Older Adult Health Outcomes -> Uninsured Rate -> Obesity Rate ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	109.8	283.3	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	1233.8	1086.4	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
K-12 Education Rank US News Best States K-12 education sub-ranking (1 = best, 50 = worst).	#29	#1	Details ->
High School Graduation Rate 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for public high schools (NCES).	88.0%	89.0%	Details ->
Student-Teacher Ratio Average number of pupils per teacher in public K-12 schools (NCES).	11.9:1	13.1:1	Details ->

K-12 Education Rank -> High School Graduation Rate -> Student-Teacher Ratio ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$70,171	$96,505	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	100.6	110.4	Details ->
Purchasing Power of $100 Real local value of $100 after adjusting for BEA Regional Price Parities.	$103.77	$95.55	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	10.4%	10.4%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	60.0%	64.4%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	3.2%	4.8%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	-0.6%	0.0%	Details ->

Median Income -> Regional Price Parity -> Purchasing Power of $100 -> Poverty Rate -> Employment/Population Ratio -> Unemployment Rate -> Job Growth ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Hurricane Risk Relative hurricane exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Moderate	Details ->
Tornado Risk Relative tornado exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Low	Details ->
Earthquake Risk Relative seismic exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Low	Details ->
Wildfire Risk Relative wildfire exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Low	Details ->

Metric	ME	MA	Deep dive
Retirement Score Composite score for comparing states for retirement, combining affordability, taxes, housing, health, safety, and winter climate.	62.4	56.2	Details ->

Retirement Score ->

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 18 shown

Saving Money

Maine is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 110.3 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.933/gal in Massachusetts vs $3.967/gal in Maine. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Minimum Wage

Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Massachusetts vs $14.65/hr in Maine. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

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Electricity Rates

Maine has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 30.73 c/kWh in Maine vs 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. 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 5.29x in Massachusetts. 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 20.9% in Massachusetts. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Explore by Category

Dive Deeper

Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.

Population

Massachusetts has a larger population than Maine by 5,667,558 people.

Population Density

Massachusetts is more densely populated than Maine.

Bachelor's Degree

Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Maine.

Advanced Degree

Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Maine.

Maine vs Massachusetts - Common Questions

Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than Massachusetts?

Maine has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Maine scores 110.3 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 38.5 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or Massachusetts?

$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.

Q Which state is bigger - Maine or Massachusetts?

Maine is larger, covering 35,380 sq mi compared with 10,554 sq mi for Massachusetts - roughly 3.4x the size.

Q Does Maine or Massachusetts have more people?

Massachusetts has the larger population at 7,029,917, compared with 1,362,359 in Maine.

Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $70,171 in Maine.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.

Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or Massachusetts?

Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.

Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. Maine is more spread out at 38.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Connecticut vs Massachusetts

Massachusetts vs New Hampshire

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.

Maine vs Massachusetts

Quality of Life

Key differences overview

Maine is 38.5 points cheaper overall

$100 goes $8.22 further in Maine

Massachusetts income is 37.5% higher

Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage

Massachusetts homes cost about 1.9x more

Massachusetts has lower state income tax

What's Your Salary Really Worth?

Pros and cons for each state

Maine

Pros: Maine

Cons

Massachusetts

Pros: Massachusetts

Cons

Full Comparison

Which state fits your priorities better?

Maine is cheaper overall

Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump

Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage

Maine has cheaper electricity

Maine is more attainable for buyers

Maine is easier for renters

Maine has lower property taxes

Massachusetts votes bluer

Massachusetts has stricter gun laws

Maine uses a control-state system

Massachusetts has lower income taxes

Maine feels less crowded

Maine has the shorter commute

Maine looks better for job seekers

Massachusetts looks better for remote workers

Massachusetts looks better for families

Massachusetts is warmer overall

Maine gets more sun

Dive Deeper

Maine vs Massachusetts - Common Questions

Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than Massachusetts?

Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or Massachusetts?

Q Which state is bigger - Maine or Massachusetts?

Q Does Maine or Massachusetts have more people?

Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or Massachusetts?

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or Massachusetts?

Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or Massachusetts?

Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or Massachusetts?

Related Comparisons

Methodology