Best Cities for Remote Workers in Maine
Maine ranks #6 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 71.9. South Portland is its best city for remote workers at 65.7.
- Maine, all states
- #6 of 50
- Population
- 26,930
Why Maine Works for Remote Workers
Maine ranks #6 out of 50 for remote workers — one of the best environments in the country for location-independent professionals. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. Maine's cost of living (index: 97.1) is near the national average, so a remote salary doesn't gain or lose much purchasing power here.
The high work-from-home rate of 14.7% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. Broadband subscriptions reach 92.4% of households, below the 50-state average — check service at a specific address, especially in rural areas.
The 10.64% tax burden is above average, which can offset some of the cost-of-living advantages for higher-earning remote professionals. Housing affordability (score: 57/100) is adequate — the typical home is worth $415,552, a manageable ratio for most remote salaries.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # City | Grade | Remote Workers score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1South Portland | A+ | 65.7 | 69.1 | 56 | 66 | 26,930 |
| 2Westbrook | A+ | 65.6 | 68.1 | 64 | 65 | 20,775 |
| 3Saco | A | 64.3 | 65.8 | 64 | 68 | 20,819 |
| 4Brunswick | A+ | 64.0 | 68.8 | 64 | 57 | 17,652 |
| 5Portland | A+ | 63.7 | 67.1 | 57 | 61 | 68,854 |
| 6Bath | A | 62.1 | 64.5 | 71 | 59 | 8,815 |
| 7Ellsworth | B+ | 62.1 | 61.5 | 80 | 57 | 8,657 |
| 8Brewer | B | 61.1 | 57.7 | 76 | 54 | 9,652 |
| 9Auburn | B | 60.4 | 56.9 | 76 | 53 | 24,602 |
| 10Caribou | B | 60.2 | 56.5 | 88 | 42 | 7,382 |
| 11Old Town | B | 59.4 | 58.5 | 79 | 47 | 7,470 |
| 12Sanford | B | 59.2 | 57.8 | 71 | 55 | 22,247 |
| 13Waterville | B | 59.2 | 57.8 | 83 | 46 | 17,077 |
| 14Old Orchard Beach | B+ | 58.5 | 62.2 | 66 | 49 | 9,244 |
| 15Presque Isle | C+ | 58.1 | 54.8 | 86 | 44 | 8,736 |
| 16Lewiston | C+ | 57.8 | 54.2 | 79 | 45 | 38,324 |
| 17Biddeford | B+ | 57.7 | 59.1 | 64 | 57 | 22,498 |
| 18Bangor | C+ | 57.2 | 55.0 | 78 | 49 | 31,938 |
| 19Augusta | C+ | 56.6 | 54.7 | 83 | 45 | 19,077 |
| 20Orono | B | 54.8 | 57.7 | 73 | 51 | 11,151 |
City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings
Also See: Maine for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maine a good state for remote workers?
Maine ranks #6 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 71.9/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (95/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (45/100).
What is the best city for remote workers in Maine?
South Portland ranks #1 in Maine for remote workers with a score of 65.7/100, followed by Westbrook and Saco.
What factors are most important for remote workers in Maine?
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.