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Economy, jobs and prices in Portland, Maine: official figures

The median household income in Portland was $79,540 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 398th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Maine median $74,733.

Median household income
$79,540
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
4.2%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
19.4 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,577
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$489,600
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
46.9%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
91.6%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Portland?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Portland averaged $52,781 a year in 2020-2024, 176th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Maine: $43,742).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Portland?

Portland's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.463 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 287th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Portland, Maine?

4.2% of the civilian labor force in Portland was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (1,770 people), 211th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Maine's 3.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Portland are working?

71.1% of Portland's 59,402 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 109th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Portland have jobs?

40,324 residents of Portland held civilian jobs, 67.9% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 164 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Portland?

The largest industry group for working residents of Portland was education, health care and social assistance (27.6% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (16.6%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.1%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Portland work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 8.8% of working residents of Portland, 401st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 16.6% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Portland, Maine?

Commuters in Portland took 19.4 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 128th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.0% travelled an hour or more and 42.9% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Portland get to work?

24.8% of workers living in Portland worked from home in 2020-2024, 109th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 53.9% drove to work alone, 5.4% carpooled, 2.6% used public transport and 11.0% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Portland, Maine?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Portland was $1,577 a month in 2020-2024, 400th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Maine: $1,139).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Portland?

Owner-occupied homes in Portland had a median value of $489,600 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 264th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Maine: $296,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Portland?

The median home value in Portland was 6.2 times the median household income, 196th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Portland, Maine own their home?

46.9% of the 32,965 occupied homes in Portland were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 17,520 were rented, 150th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Maine: 74.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Portland have broadband?

91.6% of households in Portland had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 326th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Maine: 90.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Portland have no internet?

5.8% of households in Portland (1,917) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 304th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 7.7% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Portland compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 426 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
423Modesto$79,891
424Tempe$79,663
425North Las Vegas$79,542
426Portland$79,540
427Fort Worth$79,507
428Pomona$79,479
429Taunton$79,283
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 176 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
173Lincoln$53,082
174Raleigh$52,897
175Sandy$52,871
176Portland$52,781
177Tinley Park$52,743
178Minneapolis$52,692
179Rochester$52,671
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 287 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
284Flint0.463
285Tustin0.463
286San Diego0.463
287Portland0.463
288East Orange0.463
289Billings0.463
290Dearborn Heights0.463
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 613 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
610Bellevue4.2%
611Omaha4.2%
612Blaine4.2%
613Portland4.2%
614Fort Myers4.2%
615New Braunfels4.2%
616Lincoln4.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 109 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
106Kirkland71.2%
107Waukesha71.2%
108Des Moines71.1%
109Portland71.1%
110Miramar71.1%
111Chandler71.1%
112Grand Forks71.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 696 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
693Pueblo19.4
694Columbus19.4
695Madison19.4
696Portland19.4
697Davenport19.4
698Lenexa19.4
699Minnetonka19.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 109 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
106Arlington Heights25.1%
107Richardson24.9%
108Bend24.8%
109Portland24.8%
110Round Rock24.8%
111San Mateo24.8%
112Jersey City24.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 199 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
196San Diego2.7%
197Deerfield Beach2.6%
198Milford2.6%
199Portland2.6%
200Monterey Park2.6%
201Downey2.6%
202Norfolk2.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 423 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
420Round Rock8.9%
421Sugar Land8.9%
422Ann Arbor8.9%
423Portland8.8%
424Augusta8.8%
425Irving8.8%
426Thornton8.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 131 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
128Troy27.7%
129Spokane27.6%
130Upland27.6%
131Portland27.6%
132Hoover27.6%
133Great Falls27.6%
134McAllen27.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 424 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
421Prescott Valley$1,580
422Stockton$1,577
423Bellingham$1,577
424Portland$1,577
425Hemet$1,575
426Raleigh$1,572
427Manchester$1,564
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 264 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
261West Jordan$492,500
262Lodi$492,500
263Plymouth$491,200
264Portland$489,600
265Rialto$487,900
266Greenville$487,500
267Carmel$486,800
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 193 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
190Peabody6.2x
191Marietta6.2x
192Cathedral City6.2x
193Portland6.2x
194Mount Vernon6.1x
195Dublin6.1x
196Alexandria6.1x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 674 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
671Marietta47.2%
672Missoula47.0%
673Salinas47.0%
674Portland46.9%
675Lafayette46.7%
676Knoxville46.6%
677Hialeah46.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 498 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
495Auburn91.6%
496Lawrence91.6%
497Manchester91.6%
498Portland91.6%
499Newport News91.6%
500Billings91.6%
501St. Cloud91.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Portland ranks 304 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
301Glendale5.8%
302Warner Robins5.8%
303Lauderhill5.8%
304Portland5.8%
305Kansas City5.8%
306Pasadena5.8%
307New Rochelle5.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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