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City · 68,854 residents · Cumberland County, Maine

Portland , Maine

In Portland, a typical home is worth $489,600 and typical rent is $1,577 a month. Compared with all of Cumberland County, typical household income is 17% lower, the typical home value is 9% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 23 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $489,600

    9% above the county

    65% above Maine

    • Portland
    • Cumberland
    • Maine

  • Typical rent

    $1,577a month

    About the same as the county

    38% above Maine

    • Portland
    • Cumberland
    • Maine

  • Typical household income

    $79,540a year

    17% below the county

    6% above Maine

    • Portland
    • Cumberland
    • Maine

  • Households that own their home

    47%

    23 points below the county

    27 points below Maine

    • Portland
    • Cumberland
    • Maine

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$554,454
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,399 a month
1.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Portland is in Cumberland County. The FHA loan limit ($615,250 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cumberland County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Portland apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 47% of households in Portland own their home, against 70% in Cumberland County.

  2. Nearby, in Old Orchard Beach, the typical home value is $366,600: 25% less than in Portland ($489,600).

  3. Nearby, in Old Orchard Beach, the typical rent is $1,246: 21% less than in Portland ($1,577).

  4. Portland has the 3rd highest typical home value of the 34 cities in Maine with more than 5,000 people ($489,600).

  5. The typical household income in Portland is $79,540, 17% less than in Cumberland County as a whole ($95,677).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Portland

What homes there are in Portland, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Portland; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 36%, less than in Cumberland County (63%).

Year built

In Portland, half of the homes were built before 1946; in Cumberland County, before 1976.

In Portland, 30% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 39% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 56% in Cumberland County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 66% of owner-occupied homes in Portland are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Cumberland County ($615,250).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Portland cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($2,353): about 86%.

With a mortgage

$2,295 a month

Cumberland County: $2,186 a month

Without a mortgage

$942 a month

Cumberland County: $840 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Cumberland County: 63%

In Portland, 65% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $2,295 a month, about the same as in Cumberland County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Portland rose 69%; in Cumberland County, it rose 62%.

Rents in Portland rose at about the same pace as in Cumberland County: 40% since 2015–2019, against 41%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 32%, while home values changed +69% and rent +40%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePortlandCumberland CountyMaineUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.6%2.9%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.5%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.4%1.1%1.4%3.4%
People per household 2.032.262.262.53
Drive alone 54%64%71%69%
Carpool 5%7%8%9%
Public transit 3%1%1%3%
Walk or bike 12%6%4%3%
Work from home 25%22%16%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Cumberland County, the rental vacancy rate in Portland is 3.6%.

In Portland, 1.4% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Cumberland County.

On average, a household in Portland has 2.03 people, fewer than in Cumberland County (2.26).

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 12%, more than in Cumberland County (6%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Portland?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Portland, worth $489,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 62% of the typical household income in Portland, which is $79,540 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $177,528 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cumberland County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Portland. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $17,136 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,142

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$480,732
Total interest
$691,661
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $8,268 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,856 a month

  • Tight

    $1,856 to $2,386 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,386 a month

    Your payment · 62%

Compared with the typical household income in Portland ($79,540 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,142
Principal & interest$3,257
Property tax$465
Home insurance$204
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$217

You need at least $17,136 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Portland and Cumberland County

Portland is in Cumberland County, Maine. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Portland's own numbers

Typical home value
$489,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,577
Typical yearly household income
$79,540
Households that own their home
47%
Effective property tax rate
1.14%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Cumberland County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$615,250
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,941–$2,353
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+67%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cumberland County.

Everything about Cumberland County

Buying

Buying a home in Portland

A typical home in Portland is worth $489,600: 9% above the county and 65% above Maine. With the typical household income in Portland ($79,540 a year), a typical home costs 6.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Portland 6.2 years
  • Cumberland 4.7 years
  • Maine 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Cumberland County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cumberland County rose 116% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cumberland County.

Period County Maine U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +67% +68% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +116% +112% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Portland next to Cumberland County, Maine and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Portland $489,600
  • Cumberland $451,200
  • Maine $296,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Portland $1,577
  • Cumberland $1,589
  • Maine $1,139
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Portland $79,540
  • Cumberland $95,677
  • Maine $74,733
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Portland next to Cumberland County and Maine
Measure Portland Cumberland County Maine U.S.
Typical home value $489,600 $451,200 $296,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,577 $1,589 $1,139 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $79,540 $95,677 $74,733 $80,734
Households that own their home 47% 70% 74% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $5,601 $4,707 $3,036 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.14% 1.04% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cumberland County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Portland

For a typical $489,600 home in Portland, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Portland's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,142a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $17,136
    Cash to close
    $31,824
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $217

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,053a month

    Down payment
    $24,480
    Cash to close
    $39,168
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $233

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,322a month

    Down payment
    $97,920
    Cash to close
    $112,608
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,775a month

    Down payment
    $73,440
    Cash to close
    $88,128
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Portland and for Cumberland County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Portland

1.14%of the home’s value each year

$5,601 a year for the typical owner in Portland.

  • Portland 1.14%
  • Cumberland 1.04%
  • Maine 1.02%

What Maine publishes Homestead exemption of up to $25,000 of value (Maine Revenue Services)

Exemptions and deadlines in Maine

Flood risk in Cumberland County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Cumberland County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Cumberland County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Portland

Typical rent in Portland is $1,577 a month: about the same as the county. In Portland, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Cumberland County; Portland is in Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,353 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $45.25 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,639 $31.52 $65,560
1 bedroom $1,864 $35.85 $74,560
2 bedrooms $2,353 $45.25 $94,120
3 bedrooms $2,902 $55.81 $116,080
4 bedrooms $3,092 $59.46 $123,680

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $1,941 to $2,353. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Cumberland County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people livePortland is in this area
19 towns in this area

Cape Elizabeth town, Casco town, Chebeague Island town, Cumberland town, Falmouth town, Freeport town, Frye Island town, Gorham town, Gray town, Long Island town, North Yarmouth town, Portland city, Raymond town, Scarborough town, South Portland city, Standish town, Westbrook city, Windham town, Yarmouth town

 $1,639$1,864$2,353$2,902$3,092$45.25
Cumberland County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area
9 towns in this area

Baldwin town, Bridgton town, Brunswick town, Harpswell town, Harrison town, Naples town, New Gloucester town, Pownal town, Sebago town

 $1,545$1,561$1,941$2,425$3,244$37.33

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Portland

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Portland has 6 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,270 in 04108 to $3,250 in 04019.

  • 04019 $3,250$4,010
  • 04101 $2,420$2,980
  • 04102 $2,340$2,890
  • 04103 $2,380$2,940
  • 04108 $2,270$2,800
  • 04109 $2,640$3,260

A ZIP code counts for Portland when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Portland

HUD lists 63 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Portland. These are the largest.

  • Northfield Green 147 Allen Ave, Portland 201 homes, 200 low-income · 1 bd: 200 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2018 · For older adults
  • Northfield Green 147 Allen Ave, Portland 04103 201 homes, 200 low-income · For older adults
  • Franklin Towers 211 Cumberland Ave, Portland 04101 200 low-income homes · Run by Portland Housing Authority · Average payment: $416 a month · Average wait: 2 months (207) 773-4753
  • 100 State Street 100 State St, Portland 04101 168 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Auburn Terrace 246 Auburn St, Portland 164 low-income homes · 1 bd: 36 · 2 bd: 104 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 1999

See all 138 buildings in Cumberland County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Portland

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cumberland County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Portland

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Portland or Cumberland County. The ones below are statewide in Maine: they work in Portland the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Maine

  • First Home Loan Program — Advantage

    Statewide in Maine

    With the Maine state agency's First Home mortgage, the buyer gets $5,000 for the down payment and closing costs (up to $14,000 for 2- to 4-unit homes), with no second mortgage. Offered by MaineHousing.

    Grant

    See the program Official page

  • First Generation Program

    Statewide in Maine

    Maine state agency mortgage with a rate 1% lower than its First Home mortgage and a $10,000 grant for the down payment and closing costs, with no second mortgage; for people who have never owned a home and never lived in a home their parents or guardians owned, or who were in foster care. Offered by MaineHousing.

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Portland

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Portland, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Avesta Housing Development Corporation

    307 Cumberland Ave, Portland · 4 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (207) 553-7777

  • Coastal Enterprises, Incorporated

    30 Federal Street, Brunswick · 23 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (207) 517-9877

  • Community Concepts, Inc. Also DBA Homequestmaine

    17 Market Sq, South Paris · 44 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL) and French.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (207) 333-6419

Every agency in Cumberland County All counseling agencies in Maine

Help in Spanish near Portland

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Portland

HUD’s record names them for Portland or Cumberland County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Portland Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (207) 773-4753

3 other authorities have an office in Cumberland County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Cumberland County

These cities are also in Cumberland County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Cumberland County Housing in Maine

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Portland, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Cumberland County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Portland.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Portland

Short answers with the numbers for Portland and all of Cumberland County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Portland?

The typical home value in Portland is $489,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cumberland County it is $451,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Portland?

Typical rent in Portland is $1,577 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cumberland County is $1,941–$2,353.

What is the FHA loan limit in Portland?

Portland uses the FHA limit for all of Cumberland County (2026): $615,250 for a one-unit home and $1,183,200 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Portland?

The typical homeowner in Portland pays $5,601 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.14% of the home’s value; in Cumberland County, the rate is 1.04%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Portland?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cumberland County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).