Quality of Life Score
56.21
State Comparison
Maine vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Maine has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and Texas gets more sunshine.
Maine
16
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
15
/ 31
metrics won
ME wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
TX wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Maine
winner
vs
Texas
Maine scores higher on quality of life — 9.00 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
Texas is 16.0 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while Maine is at 110.3.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.40 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $103.77 in Maine.
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Income
Maine income is 4.8% higher
Maine has the higher median household income at $70,171, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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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 Texas.
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Housing
Texas homes cost about 1.1x more
Maine has the lower median home value at $274,400, versus $294,400 in Texas.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 7.15% in Maine.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
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
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.2%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Texas
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
- —
- 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, 97.2 for Texas). 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 housing cost index.
- Maine has lower median home values.
- Maine shows higher median income.
- Maine has lower property tax rates on average.
- Maine has a lower violent crime rate.
- Maine health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Maine has a higher overall cost of living.
- Maine job growth trend is weaker.
- Maine has fewer sunny days.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Texas has a higher housing cost index.
- Texas has higher median home values.
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Texas 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
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Augusta | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
1,362,359
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$70,171
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
110.3
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$274,400
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.02%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
7.15%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.65/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.967/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.73 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
56.21
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
41.0°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
35,380 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 15, 1820 (#23)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
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
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 vs 110.3 in Maine. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas 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 Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Texas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.69 c/kWh in Texas 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 4.40x in Texas. 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 22.1% in Texas. 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 Texas - Common Questions
Q Is Maine cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 110.3 for Maine - a gap of 16.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Maine or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $103.77 in Maine.
Q Which state is bigger - Maine or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 35,380 sq mi for Maine - roughly 7.6x the size.
Q Does Maine or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 1,362,359 in Maine.
Q Which state has higher household income - Maine or Texas?
Maine has the higher median household income at $70,171, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Maine or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while Maine charges up to 7.15%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Maine or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Maine, where the median home value is $274,400, versus $294,400 in Texas.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Maine or Texas?
Texas is more densely populated at 108.5 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.