Rent Affordability for A Registered Nurse in Maine

A typical registered nurse in Maine earns about $87,866 a year, which supports approximately $2,197 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. 15 of 25 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 10 are rent-burdened on this salary.

City↕Median rent↕% of income↑Affordability
Presque Isle, ME$1,025/mo14%very comfortable
Waterville, ME$1,342/mo18.3%very comfortable
Bangor, ME$1,509/mo20.6%affordable
Lewiston, ME$1,518/mo20.7%affordable
Augusta, ME$1,549/mo21.2%affordable
Auburn, ME$1,706/mo23.3%affordable
Old Town, ME$1,717/mo23.4%affordable
Rockland, ME$1,719/mo23.5%affordable
Sanford, ME$1,795/mo24.5%affordable
Springvale, ME$1,895/mo25.9%affordable
Saco, ME$1,918/mo26.2%affordable
Biddeford, ME$1,924/mo26.3%affordable
Old Orchard Beach, ME$1,985/mo27.1%affordable
Bath, ME$1,986/mo27.1%affordable
Brunswick, ME$2,125/mo29%affordable
Gorham, ME$2,199/mo30%stretched
Portland, ME$2,399/mo32.8%stretched
Kittery, ME$2,411/mo32.9%stretched
South Portland, ME$2,413/mo33%stretched
Yarmouth, ME$2,489/mo34%stretched
Freeport, ME$2,528/mo34.5%stretched
Scarborough, ME$2,714/mo37.1%stretched
Orono, ME$2,900/mo39.6%stretched
Falmouth, ME$3,011/mo41.1%rent-burdened
Cape Elizabeth, ME$3,217/mo43.9%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).