Bangor vs South Portland
Bangor, Maine versus South Portland, Maine: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
South Portland edges out Bangor on overall objective livability (51 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bangor | South Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $52k | $82k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $59k |
| Home Value | $190k | $360k |
| Monthly Rent | $930 | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 1.11% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.52% | 13.76% |
| Unemployment | 4.5% | 2.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 18°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.7 in | 48.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.6 in | 68.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 221 days | 218 days |
| Summer Humidity | 59°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 78 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 41.2 | 17.2 |
| Air Quality | 30 AQI | 40 AQI |
| School Quality | 60.0 | 59.4 |
| Violent Crime | 3061/100k | 689/100k |
| Property Crime | 4844/100k | 1815/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 31,705 | 26,656 |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 41.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.21 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.87 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | D+37 |
| White (%) | 87.9% | 83.5% |
| Black (%) | 2.4% | 6.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.9% | 2.8% |
| Asian (%) | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 7.9/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 203 mi | 94 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.8% | 90.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 51.10 | 169.94 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bangor or South Portland more affordable?
- Bangor has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Bangor's $55k and South Portland's $59k. Median rent is $930 in Bangor versus $2k in South Portland.
- Is Bangor or South Portland safer?
- South Portland has the lower violent crime rate. Bangor reports 3061/100k and South Portland reports 689/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bangor or South Portland?
- The median home value is $190k in Bangor and $360k in South Portland, so homes are more affordable in Bangor.