Quality of Life Score
56.21
State Comparison
Maine vs Rhode Island
Maine is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Maine, Rhode Island has higher incomes, Rhode Island has lower state income tax, and Maine gets more sunshine.
Maine
21
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Rhode Island
10
/ 31
metrics won
ME wins Housing
ME wins Quality of Life
RI wins Climate
RI wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Maine
winner
vs
Rhode Island
Maine scores higher on quality of life — 4.16 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 4.9 points cheaper overall
Maine has the lower cost-of-living index. Maine is at 110.3, while Rhode Island is at 115.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $2.94 further in Maine
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.77 of local buying power in Maine, versus $100.83 in Rhode Island.
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Income
Rhode Island income is 10.8% higher
Rhode Island has the higher median household income at $77,728, compared with $70,171 in Maine.
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Jobs
Rhode Island has the higher minimum wage
Rhode Island has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $14.65/hr in Maine.
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Housing
Rhode Island homes cost about 1.4x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $371,600 in Rhode Island.
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Taxes
Rhode Island has lower state income tax
Rhode Island has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.99%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
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Maine
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Rhode Island
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.0%)
- —
- 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 (100.6 for Maine, 102.8 for Rhode Island). 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 access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Maine shows lower median income.
- Maine job growth trend is weaker.
- Maine health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Maine education proxy is lower.
Rhode Island
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Rhode Island
- Rhode Island shows higher median income.
- Rhode Island job growth trend is stronger.
- Rhode Island health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Rhode Island education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Rhode Island has a higher overall cost of living.
- Rhode Island has a higher housing cost index.
- Rhode Island has higher median home values.
- Rhode Island has higher property tax rates on average.
- Rhode Island has a higher violent crime rate.
- Rhode Island health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
ME
|
RI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Augusta | Providence |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
1,362,359
|
1,097,379
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,171
|
$77,728
|
|
Cost of Living
|
110.3
|
115.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$274,400
|
$371,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.02%
|
1.21%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
7.15%
|
5.99%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.65/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.967/gal
|
$3.997/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
30.14 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.21
|
52.05
|
|
Average Temperature
|
41.0°F
|
50.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
98 days
|
|
Land Area
|
35,380 sq mi
|
1,545 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
710.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
May 29, 1790 (#13)
|
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 115.2 in Rhode Island. 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 $3.997/gal in Rhode Island. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Rhode Island has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Rhode Island vs $14.65/hr in Maine. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Rhode Island has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 30.14 c/kWh in Rhode Island 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 4.78x in Rhode Island. 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 19.4% in Rhode Island. 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.
Population
Maine has a larger population than Rhode Island by 264,980 people.
Population Density
Rhode Island is more densely populated than Maine.
Bachelor's Degree
Rhode Island has a higher college-educated share than Maine.
Advanced Degree
Rhode Island has a higher advanced-degree share than Maine.
People Also Ask
Maine vs Rhode Island - Common Questions
Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than Rhode Island?
Maine has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Maine scores 110.3 versus 115.2 for Rhode Island - a gap of 4.9 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or Rhode Island?
$100 goes further in Maine. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.77 in Maine, compared with $100.83 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state is bigger - Maine or Rhode Island?
Maine is larger, covering 35,380 sq mi compared with 1,545 sq mi for Rhode Island - roughly 22.9x the size.
Q Does Maine or Rhode Island have more people?
Maine has the larger population at 1,362,359, compared with 1,097,379 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has the higher median household income at $77,728, versus $70,171 in Maine.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.99%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or Rhode Island?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $371,600 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is more densely populated at 710.3 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.