The typical owner-occupied home in Portland is worth about $489,600, 65% above the Maine median of $296,600 and 47% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,601 a year in property taxes, about 1.14% of their home's value, higher than the Maine rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $79,540 a year, so the median home costs 6.2 times the median income (4.0 times for Maine). 47% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Portland at a glance
| Portland | Maine | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $489,600 | $296,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $5,601 | $3,036 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.14% | 1.02% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $79,540 | $74,733 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 47% | 74% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 65% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,295 | $1,729 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 22.8% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,577 | $1,139 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.6% | 29.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1946 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.8% | 20.6% | 10.1% |
| Population | 68,854 | 1,387,817 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Portland
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Portland home of $489,600 with 20% down costs about $3,304 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,120, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $141,599 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 50% of the median Portland household income of $79,540; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $275,000.
The median rent here is $1,577 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,727 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $97,920 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $391,680 |
| Principal and interest | $2,635 |
| Property taxes (1.14% a year) | $465 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $204 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,304 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $17,136 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $480,732 |
| Principal and interest | $3,234 |
| Property taxes (1.14% a year) | $465 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $204 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $217 |
| Total per month | $4,120 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Portland
What is the median home value in Portland?
About $489,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Portland?
Homeowners pay a median $5,601 a year, which is about 1.14% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Portland?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,304 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $141,599 a year.
More about Portland
- Mortgage Refinance in Portland
- Debt Relief in Portland
- Home Equity Loans in Portland
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data