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Maine State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#25 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Maine is a peaceful, naturally beautiful state. It is fast becoming a pillar in the culinary scene, especially with its vast delicacies of seafood.Altogether, the region is a destination to visit. It is adorned with various scenic landscapes, picturesque lakes, mountains, and river shores. The weather, especially sunrise, is generally beautiful. Hence, its cities welcome a vast number of visitors every year.

Updated: April 20, 2021
  • Area
    35,385 sq mi
  • Capital
    Augusta
  • Population
    1,344,212
  • Income
    $56,277
  • Home Value
    $276,023
  • Crime
    1,548
  • Unemployment
    5.0%
  • Education
    30.3%
  • Medicine
    23
  • Poverty
    11.3%
  • Environment
    0
  • Infrastructure
    7.3%

The state of Maine is the 12th-smallest American state by area. With a low population density index, it prides itself as one of the safest provinces in the United States.

Located at the northeast end of the country, the territory sits in the New England region of the U.S. It famously shares its northern and southern borders with Canada and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. By its position, it is always the first to get the morning rays as the sun rises. 

The region’s topography is abundantly covered with frigid waters, mountains, and vast forest lands. Altogether, they give the area its peaceful ambiance and natural beauty. 

As for history, the territory is believed to be initially inhabited by Vikings and ice age hunters. However, now it has native Americans as its primary settlers. At some other point in its history, a large portion of its land was annexed by Massachusetts. After several and frequent disputes, ME regained its ground and attained statehood on March 15, 1820. Portland held the seat of government, but twelve years later, Augusta became the capital of Maine.

Statewide, there are 16 Maine counties, 426 zip codes, and a time-zone (Eastern Standard Time). There are several state parks, museums, forests, and tourist attractions. Some famous examples are the Portland Museum of Art, Acadia National Park, Marginal Way Beach, etc. Every year, over 30 million people from all over the world troop in to enjoy its beautiful sites and renowned culinary skills.

Tourism and hospitality are not the only things Vacationland is known for; it is also agricultural land. Interestingly, ME is a large-scale producer of grapes, trout, lobsters, clams, and other kinds of seafood. It also produces and exports toothpicks, paper products, and electronic equipment. The mining and trade industries are massive revenue sources for the economy, likewise the health, trade, and commerce sectors. Sand, gravel, and limestone are its most mined products.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States To Live in

Before compiling the list of the best states to reside in in 2021, it was essential to gather accurate data from trusted sources. Using reports from the National Census Bureau and several government departments and ministries, relevant data were collated, sorted, and arranged into ten measurable metrics.

Then, the states’ performance and ranking with each indicator were used to determine their overall ranking.

Maine Rankings

  • Population
    #42
    Population
    Data: 1,344,212

    With over a million population, the state ranks as the ninth least-populous American province. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the region is sparsely dense. And its demographics comprise a majority of white Americans (about 94%). Portland in Cumberland county and Lewiston are the most populated cities in the territory.

  • Median Income
    #47
    Income in $
    Data: $56,277

    Among all the neighboring states, ME performed the least in this ranking. However, the territory has experienced a rising trend in household income over the last two decades. The minimum wage healthcare, hospitality, trade, and manufacturing industries are the most employing sectors in the state.

  • Home Value
    #23
    Home Value
    Data: $276,023

    Sitting on the mid-table in the national rankings, housing reveals similar values found in Florida, Delaware, and Wyoming. Other neighboring states have a much higher value. A majority of Mainers are house owners. Hence, the median monthly rent for homes here is $870. Cumberland County has the highest accommodation prices statewide.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #18
    Unemployment
    Data: 5.0%

    The Maine unemployment rate is among the best in the country: above Massachusetts and Washington. With over 690,000 Mainers in the civilian labor force, only 20,000 are jobless. That also follows the decade-long downtrend of unemployment in the region. The most in-demand jobs are general managers, heavy-duty truck drivers, registered nurses, and sales supervisors.

  • Poverty
    #20
    Poverty
    Data: 11.3%

    Most of the northeastern states are among the county's wealthiest: New Hampshire (7.2%; #1), Massachusetts (9.9%; #9), and Connecticut (9.7%; #7). However, ME performed averagely. About 12% of households experience difficulty providing enough food due to a lack of money or resources. And, 13.8% of the children population live in poverty.

  • Education
    #22
    Education
    Data: 30.3%

    Census shows that only about 400,000 of the Maine population are college graduates. Out of that number, a vast majority are white, then Blacks, Latinos, and Asians. The most pursued degrees are nursing, business administration, and general psychology. By national ranking, its best schools are the University of Maine, Bowdoin, and Bates colleges.

  • Medicine
    #14
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 23

    This is a fairly healthy region, with a few of the population still without health insurance. The mortality index shows an annual increase with 15,068 total deaths (in 2019). The highest causes of death are cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries, and chronic respiratory illnesses. Also, it recorded 28 HIV/AIDS-related deaths that year.

  • Crime Rate
    #1
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 1,548

    ME leads other American states to sit as the first most peaceful territory country-wide. It records minimal criminal cases: murder (20), robbery (188), motor vehicle thefts (726), and aggravated assault (824). Generally, Mainers are peaceful people. Despite its liberal gun laws, its districts enjoy much peace. The safest neighborhoods are in Cumberland county.

  • Natural Environment
    #14
    Environment
    Air: 0

    The territory is famous for its scenic landscapes, vast forest lands, numerous water bodies. Its natural beauty, though, suffers a little dent due to some inappropriate human activities. The state suffers mostly from water pollution and poor disposal of hazardous wastes. As for natural hazards, the most are floods, wildfire, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

  • Infrastructure
    #38
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 7.3%

    The scorecard for ME's infrastructure reveals the low level of infrastructure in the area. It has over 400 deficient bridges and roads statewide, which shows inadequate government funding in this sector. Also, the conditions at seaports are fair. Road transit in the territory can sometimes slow due to the poor roads and traffic situation. The average travel time to work is 24 minutes.

Maine Facts

  • The state flower is White Pine Cone.
  • The official flag comprises a blue background with the coat of arms at the center.
  • The state’s motto is “Dirigo” (Latin for “I Direct” or “I Lead”).
  • Acadia National Park has hosted over 3.3 million visitors annually since 2015. That makes it the most visited national park in the region and second in the United States.
  • In Vacationland, the state and national parks cover 542,629 acres of land area.
  • The province provides more than 80% of the U.S. lobster supply yearly, with over 100 million pounds worth about $400 million. That makes the region one of the world’s largest producers.
  • Of all the cities in its boundaries, Portland has the highest population with 66,595 people.
  • The base sales tax here is 5.5%. Its income tax is between 5.8% – 7.5% depending on the total monthly salary. The property tax is at 1.27%.
  • Every Mainer aged 16 and above must obtain a fishing license to hunt people sport fish from inland waters. Depending on the duration and type of activity, the permit costs between $10 – $25 for residents.
  • The best times to visit Vacationland are during summer and fall (between June and September).
  • Dr. Benjamin Vaughan designed the province’s Great Seal in 1820. And Col. Isaac Reed gave the official description of the logo.

Maine in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • Where Is Maine?

    ME is located at the northeastern end of the United States. It shares boundaries with New Hampshire to the west and Canada to the north. The Atlantic Ocean surrounds it on its southeastern side.

    With New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, the state makes up the New England region of the country.

  • What Is The Abbreviation for Maine?

    The official Maine abbreviation is ME. Unofficially, it is also called “The Pine Tree State” or the “Vacationland.”

    The ISO 3166 code is US-ME. It is used to designate the region as a U.S. subdivision.

  • What Is Vacationland Known for?

    The state has a famous history of spicy seafood: lobster and clams. Then, it is known country-wide for the production of blueberries. It is the sole producer of fruit in the United States.

    As the pine tree state, it is renowned for its heavily forested interior and beautiful waterways. Plus, it has an abundance of rocky coastline and low, rolling mountains.

    Stephen King, the world-famous novelist, hails from here and several popular figures in American history too. Two examples are Nelson A. Rockefeller and Margaret Chase Smith. President George Bush was also known to spend his summers here.

  • What To Do in Maine?

    Tourists can enjoy nature’s view by going whale watching, riding on a boat, or walking through the vast forest. Individuals can go hiking or skiing from great heights on the numerous mountains and terrains. The abundance of waterfalls, lakes, and beaches gives an ample choice for where to swim.

    Coming back to midtown, there are several shopping outlets, art museums, and music concert-halls. Tourists can also enjoy some time fishing or hunting crabs. The delicious cuisines and coffee flavors must not be forgotten too: a visit to a nice restaurant can be trip-defining.

  • What Is Minimum Wage in ME?

    Statewide, the most basic payment payable to a worker is $11.00 per hour. A minimum wage employee will receive a total of $440 weekly (for a 40-hour week). Summatively that equals $22,880 annual income.

    For every hour of overtime spent, individuals are entitled to 1.5 times their regular rates of pay.