Rents are 4% below what South Portland's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,413 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in South Portland usually run 2.1% below trend in February and 2.1% above it in July, about $101 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in South Portland is 1% below its high of $2,438 in July 2026, at $2,413 as of September 2026.
Rent in South Portland changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 Maine cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($86,838) is $2,171 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,760); a 2-bedroom is $2,260.
Old Orchard Beach, 9 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,985/mo), about $5,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for South Portland. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
South Portland, ME is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 51.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How South Portland, ME has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in South Portland, ME has shifted from $1,735 to $2,413, up 39.1% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $73,899 to $86,838 across the same window, up 17.5% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show South Portland, ME adding about 502 residents over the five-year window, up 1.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 35.8% to 41.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 46.3% to 51.7% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in South Portland, ME look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in South Portland on your salary?
At $2,413/mo, how South Portland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
South Portland rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in South Portland. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in South Portland
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in South Portland is $2,413/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,550/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,260/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,760/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,770/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($86,838/yr), South Portland ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than South Portland?
At $2,413/mo, rent takes ~33% of South Portland's median household income ($86,838/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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