Quality of Life Score
56.21
State Comparison
Maine vs New Jersey
Maine is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, New Jersey has higher incomes, Maine has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
Maine
18
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New Jersey
13
/ 31
metrics won
ME wins Housing
ME wins Quality of Life
NJ wins Climate
NJ wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Maine
vs
New Jersey
winner
New Jersey scores higher on quality of life — 3.60 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 11.4 points cheaper overall
Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while New Jersey is at 121.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $10.32 further in Maine
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $93.45 in New Jersey.
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Income
New Jersey income is 38.4% higher
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
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Jobs
New Jersey has the higher minimum wage
New Jersey has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.49/hr, compared with $14.65/hr in Maine.
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Housing
New Jersey homes cost about 1.5x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
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Taxes
Maine has lower state income tax
Maine has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 7.15%, compared with 10.75% in New Jersey.
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Maine
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
- —
- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
New Jersey
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 10.8%)
- —
- 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, 112.9 for New Jersey). 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 health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Maine shows lower median income.
- Maine job growth trend is weaker.
- Maine health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Maine education proxy is lower.
New Jersey
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New Jersey
- New Jersey shows higher median income.
- New Jersey job growth trend is stronger.
- New Jersey health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- New Jersey education proxy is higher.
Cons
- New Jersey has a higher overall cost of living.
- New Jersey has a higher housing cost index.
- New Jersey has higher median home values.
- New Jersey has higher property tax rates on average.
- New Jersey has a higher violent crime rate.
- New Jersey health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
ME
|
NJ
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Augusta | Trenton |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
1,362,359
|
9,288,994
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,171
|
$97,126
|
|
Cost of Living
|
110.3
|
121.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$274,400
|
$400,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.02%
|
2.11%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
7.15%
|
10.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.65/hr
|
$15.49/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.967/gal
|
$4.093/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
23.13 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.21
|
59.81
|
|
Average Temperature
|
41.0°F
|
52.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
94 days
|
|
Land Area
|
35,380 sq mi
|
8,723 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
1,064.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
December 18, 1787 (#3)
|
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 121.7 in New Jersey. 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 $4.093/gal in New Jersey. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
New Jersey has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.49/hr in New Jersey vs $14.65/hr in Maine. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
New Jersey has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 23.13 c/kWh in New Jersey 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 4.13x in New Jersey. 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 19.5% in New Jersey. 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.
People Also Ask
Maine vs New Jersey - Common Questions
Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than New Jersey?
Maine has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Maine scores 110.3 versus 121.7 for New Jersey - a gap of 11.4 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or New Jersey?
$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $93.45 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is bigger - Maine or New Jersey?
Maine is larger, covering 35,380 sq mi compared with 8,723 sq mi for New Jersey - roughly 4.1x the size.
Q Does Maine or New Jersey have more people?
New Jersey has the larger population at 9,288,994, compared with 1,362,359 in Maine.
Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or New Jersey?
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, versus $70,171 in Maine.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or New Jersey?
Maine has the lower state income tax top rate at 7.15%, compared with 10.75% in New Jersey.
Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or New Jersey?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or New Jersey?
New Jersey is more densely populated at 1,064.9 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.