Cousins Island vs South Portland
Cousins Island, 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.
Cousins Island edges out South Portland on overall objective livability (54 vs 50 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Cousins Island | South Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $169k | $82k |
| Cost of Living | $59k | $59k |
| Home Value | $603k | $360k |
| Monthly Rent | — | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $198 | $7k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.29% | 1.11% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.52% | 13.76% |
| Unemployment | 7.7% | 2.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 23°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5 in | 48.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 84.0 in | 68.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 218 days | 218 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 87 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 36.5 | 17.2 |
| Air Quality | 36 AQI | 40 AQI |
| School Quality | 72.9 | 59.4 |
| Violent Crime | 569/100k | 689/100k |
| Property Crime | 1070/100k | 1815/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 504 | 26,656 |
| Median Age | 58.7 | 41.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.15 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+37 | D+37 |
| White (%) | 92.3% | 83.5% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 6.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.0% | 2.8% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 18 min |
| Walkability | 9.2/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 106 mi | 94 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 100.0% | 90.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 773.81 | 169.94 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | 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 Cousins Island or South Portland more affordable?
- South Portland has the lower cost of living: its index is $59k, compared with Cousins Island's $59k and South Portland's $59k.
- Is Cousins Island or South Portland safer?
- Cousins Island has the lower violent crime rate. Cousins Island reports 569/100k and South Portland reports 689/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Cousins Island or South Portland?
- The median home value is $603k in Cousins Island and $360k in South Portland, so homes are more affordable in South Portland.