Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in South Portland, ME?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.7% of gross income.
South Portland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).
About rent and an elementary school teacher salary
Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Maine cities have lower median rent than South Portland, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:
Compare with full rent data for South Portland
View full rent data for South Portland, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in South Portland, ME?
Median rent in South Portland is $2,533 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Maine earns about $62,384 a year, which makes that rent 48.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in South Portland?
Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Maine (~$62,384/yr) supports up to $1,560 a month in rent. South Portland's current median rent is $2,533/mo, which is $973/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in South Portland?
At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Maine works roughly 84.5 hours a month to cover South Portland's median rent of $2,533.
Where is rent cheaper than South Portland for an elementary school teacher?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Freeport ($2,532/mo), Yarmouth ($2,518/mo), Kittery ($2,472/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.