Quality of Life Score
56.21
State Comparison
Maine vs New York
Maine is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, New York has higher incomes, Maine has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
Maine
16
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New York
15
/ 31
metrics won
ME wins Housing
ME wins Quality of Life
NY wins Climate
ME wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Maine
vs
New York
winner
New York scores higher on quality of life — 1.73 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 22.4 points cheaper overall
Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while New York is at 132.7.
View detailed comparison
Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $15.47 further in Maine
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $88.30 in New York.
View detailed comparison
Income
New York income is 12.0% higher
New York has the higher median household income at $78,609, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
View detailed comparison
Jobs
New York minimum wage is $1.85 higher
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $14.65/hr in Maine.
View detailed comparison
Housing
New York homes cost about 1.3x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $367,200 in New York.
View detailed comparison
Taxes
Maine has lower state income tax
Maine has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 7.15%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
View detailed comparisonTake-Home Calculator
What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
$
$10k$250k$500k
Maine
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
New York
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 10.9%)
- —
- 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, 114.8 for New York). 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.
New York
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New York
- New York shows higher median income.
- New York job growth trend is stronger.
- New York health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- New York health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- New York education proxy is higher.
Cons
- New York has a higher overall cost of living.
- New York has a higher housing cost index.
- New York has higher median home values.
- New York has higher property tax rates on average.
- New York has a higher violent crime rate.
- New York has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
ME
|
NY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Augusta | Albany |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
1,362,359
|
20,201,249
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,171
|
$78,609
|
|
Cost of Living
|
110.3
|
132.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$274,400
|
$367,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.02%
|
1.55%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
7.15%
|
10.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.65/hr
|
$16.50/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.967/gal
|
$4.069/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.21
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
41.0°F
|
45.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
63 days
|
|
Land Area
|
35,380 sq mi
|
54,555 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
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 132.7 in New York. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Maine is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.967/gal in Maine vs $4.069/gal in New York. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in New York vs $14.65/hr in Maine. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
New York has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 28.37 c/kWh in New York vs 30.73 c/kWh in Maine. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Maine is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.91x in Maine vs 4.67x in New York. 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 24.1% in New York. 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
Maine vs New York - Common Questions
Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than New York?
Maine has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Maine scores 110.3 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 22.4 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or New York?
$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $88.30 in New York.
Q Which state is bigger - Maine or New York?
New York is larger, covering 54,555 sq mi compared with 35,380 sq mi for Maine - roughly 1.5x the size.
Q Does Maine or New York have more people?
New York has the larger population at 20,201,249, compared with 1,362,359 in Maine.
Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or New York?
New York has the higher median household income at $78,609, versus $70,171 in Maine.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or New York?
Maine has the lower state income tax top rate at 7.15%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or New York?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $367,200 in New York.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or New York?
New York is more densely populated at 370.3 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.