Poverty and living standards in Maine, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 10.6% of people in Maine lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 144,234 people; joint 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Maine gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Maine was 10.9% (141,566 people), so the rate is down 0.3 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Maine?
12.3% of children under 18 in Maine were in poverty in 2024, about 29,664 children; 19th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 12.8% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Maine?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Maine was 0.4566 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 17th least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Maine are cost-burdened?
50.2% of renting households in Maine spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 23.2% spent half or more; the 30% share is 23rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Maine get food stamps?
12.7% of households in Maine (78,348) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 16th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 45% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 51% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Maine?
An average of 166,321 people in Maine received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 3.4% on fiscal 2024 (172,232), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Maine?
SNAP benefits paid in Maine totaled $348.29 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $174.51 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 8th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Maine?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 2,413 people experiencing homelessness in Maine, down 10.7% on 2024 (2,702) and up 14.6% on 2019 (2,106); 10th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Maine sleep outside?
Of those counted in Maine in January 2025, 2,132 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 281 (11.6%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 7th lowest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Maine?
The January 2025 count in Maine included 793 people in families with children, 488 children under 18, 520 chronically homeless individuals and 127 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Maine are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 10.9% of households in Maine were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; joint 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Maine getting worse?
4.4% of households in Maine had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 11.4% in 2018-20 and 15.1% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -0.5 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Maine compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Maine ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Kansas | 10.9% |
| 30 | North Dakota | 10.8% |
| 31 | Nebraska | 10.6% |
| 32 | Maine | 10.6% |
| 33 | South Dakota | 10.5% |
| 34 | Idaho | 10.4% |
| 35 | Montana | 10.4% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Maine ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Connecticut | 13.0% |
| 31 | Alaska | 12.9% |
| 32 | Kansas | 12.8% |
| 33 | Maine | 12.3% |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 12.2% |
| 35 | South Dakota | 11.9% |
| 36 | New Jersey | 11.8% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Maine ranks 35 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Wyoming | 0.4609 |
| 33 | Montana | 0.4581 |
| 34 | North Dakota | 0.4570 |
| 35 | Maine | 0.4566 |
| 36 | Maryland | 0.4559 |
| 37 | Oregon | 0.4557 |
| 38 | Kansas | 0.4557 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Maine ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Mississippi | 50.3% |
| 22 | Delaware | 50.3% |
| 23 | Tennessee | 50.2% |
| 24 | Maine | 50.2% |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 49.4% |
| 26 | New Hampshire | 49.4% |
| 27 | Virginia | 49.3% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Maine ranks 16 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Kentucky | 13.4% |
| 14 | Michigan | 13.2% |
| 15 | Alabama | 13.1% |
| 16 | Maine | 12.7% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 12.0% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 11.9% |
| 19 | Nevada | 11.9% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Maine ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Idaho | 11.3% |
| 28 | Delaware | 11.3% |
| 29 | North Carolina | 10.9% |
| 30 | Maine | 10.9% |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | 10.8% |
| 32 | Wisconsin | 10.7% |
| 33 | Kansas | 10.6% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Maine ranks 42 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Kansas | 2,658 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 2,656 |
| 41 | Alaska | 2,655 |
| 42 | Maine | 2,413 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 2,406 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 2,373 |
| 45 | Montana | 2,263 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Maine ranks 45 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | New Jersey | 14.5% |
| 43 | Illinois | 14.2% |
| 44 | Maryland | 12.7% |
| 45 | Maine | 11.6% |
| 46 | Nebraska | 10.8% |
| 47 | Delaware | 10.6% |
| 48 | Wisconsin | 9.1% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Maine ranks 38 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Arkansas | 240,378 |
| 36 | Kansas | 187,181 |
| 37 | Utah | 176,220 |
| 38 | Maine | 166,321 |
| 39 | Hawaii | 161,312 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 150,587 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | 143,670 |
More on Maine: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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