Rent Affordability for A Firefighter in Maine

A typical firefighter in Maine earns about $58,413 a year, which supports approximately $1,460 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Maine city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.

As of May 2026. 2 of 25 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 23 are rent-burdened on this salary.

CityMedian rent% of incomeAffordability
Presque Isle, ME$1,150/mo23.6%affordable
Waterville, ME$1,295/mo26.6%affordable
Lewiston, ME$1,480/mo30.4%stretched
Auburn, ME$1,503/mo30.9%stretched
Augusta, ME$1,533/mo31.5%stretched
Bangor, ME$1,592/mo32.7%stretched
Orono, ME$1,625/mo33.4%stretched
Sanford, ME$1,681/mo34.5%stretched
Rockland, ME$1,775/mo36.5%stretched
Old Town, ME$1,801/mo37%stretched
Bath, ME$1,825/mo37.5%stretched
Springvale, ME$1,895/mo38.9%stretched
Old Orchard Beach, ME$1,915/mo39.3%stretched
Biddeford, ME$1,982/mo40.7%rent-burdened
Brunswick, ME$2,109/mo43.3%rent-burdened
Gorham, ME$2,150/mo44.2%rent-burdened
Saco, ME$2,226/mo45.7%rent-burdened
Portland, ME$2,429/mo49.9%rent-burdened
Yarmouth, ME$2,455/mo50.4%severely rent-burdened
Kittery, ME$2,459/mo50.5%severely rent-burdened
South Portland, ME$2,533/mo52%severely rent-burdened
Freeport, ME$2,532/mo52%severely rent-burdened
Scarborough, ME$2,694/mo55.3%severely rent-burdened
Cape Elizabeth, ME$2,908/mo59.7%severely rent-burdened
Falmouth, ME$3,242/mo66.6%severely rent-burdened
Methodology: Salary is the BLS-derived state estimate for Maine. Rent is the latest ZORI monthly value for each city. Affordability uses the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income).