Maine
ME • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
56.21
State Comparison
Maine vs New Hampshire
Maine is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, New Hampshire has higher incomes, New Hampshire has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
Maine
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New Hampshire
16
/ 31
metrics won
ME wins Housing
NH wins Quality of Life
NH wins Climate
NH wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Maine
vs
New Hampshire
winner
New Hampshire scores higher on quality of life — 2.00 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 6.8 points cheaper overall
Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while New Hampshire is at 117.1.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $4.95 further in Maine
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $98.82 in New Hampshire.
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Income
New Hampshire income is 29.5% higher
New Hampshire has the higher median household income at $90,845, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
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Jobs
Maine minimum wage is $7.40 higher
Maine has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.65/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in New Hampshire.
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Housing
New Hampshire homes cost about 1.4x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $377,600 in New Hampshire.
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Taxes
New Hampshire has lower state income tax
New Hampshire has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Maine
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
New Hampshire
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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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 (100.6 for Maine, 103.4 for New Hampshire). 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 job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Maine shows lower median income.
- Maine health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Maine health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Maine education proxy is lower.
New Hampshire
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New Hampshire
- New Hampshire shows higher median income.
- New Hampshire health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- New Hampshire health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- New Hampshire education proxy is higher.
Cons
- New Hampshire has a higher overall cost of living.
- New Hampshire has a higher housing cost index.
- New Hampshire has higher median home values.
- New Hampshire has higher property tax rates on average.
- New Hampshire has a higher violent crime rate.
- New Hampshire job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
ME
|
NH
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Augusta | Concord |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
1,362,359
|
1,377,529
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,171
|
$90,845
|
|
Cost of Living
|
110.3
|
117.1
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$274,400
|
$377,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.02%
|
1.66%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
7.15%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.65/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.967/gal
|
$3.925/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
26.32 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.21
|
58.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
41.0°F
|
43.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
90 days
|
|
Land Area
|
35,380 sq mi
|
9,349 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
147.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
June 21, 1788 (#9)
|
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 117.1 in New Hampshire. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
New Hampshire is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.925/gal in New Hampshire vs $3.967/gal in Maine. 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 $7.25/hr in New Hampshire. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
New Hampshire has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 26.32 c/kWh in New Hampshire 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 4.16x in New Hampshire. 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 19.2% in New Hampshire. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
New Hampshire has a larger population than Maine by 15,170 people.
Population Density
New Hampshire is more densely populated than Maine.
Bachelor's Degree
New Hampshire has a higher college-educated share than Maine.
Advanced Degree
New Hampshire has a higher advanced-degree share than Maine.
People Also Ask
Maine vs New Hampshire - Common Questions
Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than New Hampshire?
Maine has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Maine scores 110.3 versus 117.1 for New Hampshire - a gap of 6.8 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or New Hampshire?
$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $98.82 in New Hampshire.
Q Which state is bigger - Maine or New Hampshire?
Maine is larger, covering 35,380 sq mi compared with 9,349 sq mi for New Hampshire - roughly 3.8x the size.
Q Does Maine or New Hampshire have more people?
New Hampshire has the larger population at 1,377,529, compared with 1,362,359 in Maine.
Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has the higher median household income at $90,845, versus $70,171 in Maine.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has no state income tax, while Maine charges up to 7.15%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or New Hampshire?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $377,600 in New Hampshire.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or New Hampshire?
New Hampshire is more densely populated at 147.3 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.