---
title: Portland, Maine
description: Portland, Maine is an economically sound city with incredible seafood that draws in millions of tourists. It's one of MONEY's 2019 Best Places to Live.
published: '2019-09-16T10:00:28.000Z'
modified: '2019-09-16T10:00:29.000Z'
tags:
  - Best Places to Live
  - Best Places to Live 2019
canonical: https://money.com/collection-post/portland-maine/
type: Article
source: structured-blocks
---

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![light house and sail boat off the coast of Portland, Maine](https://img.money.com/2019/09/44-portland-maine.jpg)

Perched on a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean is the eclectic seacoast city of Portland, Maine. Not only does the working waterfront downtown district have a strong boating and fishing community, but there's also an abundance of small local businesses, restaurants, art galleries, and theaters.

The 67,000-strong city blooms during the summer months when millions of tourists pass through the greater Portland area. As an [economically sound city](https://www.forbes.com/places/or/portland/), there is no shortage of job opportunities, from working on the water at the fishing or transit ports, or at one of the fast-growing companies in health care, tech, and professional industries. The unemployment rate is only 2.7% and the surrounding county saw a healthy 10.4% job growth between 2010 and 2018.

Portland seamlessly blends modern companies in the [software and tech industries](https://www.forbes.com/sites/danieldambrosio/2019/08/19/afghan-vet-leads-explosive-growth-at-maine-technology-company-and-hes-no-longer-being-shot-at/#668da153398b) with centuries-long history and architecture. The coastal town offers easy access to various islands through the [Casco Bay Ferry](https://www.cascobaylines.com/). As for food, it'd be a mistake to miss out on the famous Maine lobsters and oysters; local favorites are Portland Lobster Co. and [Duckfat](https://duckfat.com/). — *Chloe Wilt*

![Portland, Maine population, median household income and home price, projected job growth, average commute, clear days per year](https://img.money.com/2019/09/bpl_chart_44.jpg)

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