The Town FilesSouth Portland, Maine
City in Cumberland County · population 26,498 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $441,200
- Household income
- $86,838
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.9
South Portland is a city of 26,498 people in Cumberland County, Maine. The median home is worth $441,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 100% of Maine towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Maine towns.
How South Portland ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Portland is worth $441,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $86,838, which is more affordable than 11% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,812 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Portland | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $441,200 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,812 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $86,838 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in South Portland
| People | South Portland | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.7% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 90.0% |
Weather in South Portland
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.7 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Portland since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 22, 1974 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 18, 2011.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4785: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 192,475 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,351 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in South Portland itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in South Portland
8 public schools with 2,953 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland High School | 9-12 | 995 | 12.4 |
| South Portland Middle School | 5-8 | 819 | 9.3 |
| Waldo T Skillin Elementary School | K-4 | 311 | 10.0 |
| Frank I Brown Elementary School | K-4 | 222 | 10.6 |
| Dyer Elementary School | PK-4 | 212 | 10.6 |
| Dora L Small Elementary School | K-4 | 204 | 10.2 |
| James Otis Kaler Elementary School | PK-4 | 179 | 8.5 |
| Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC | 7-12 | 11 | 1.1 |
Towns near South Portland
- Oak Hill, ME3.7 mi · 5,846 people · home $429,100
- Scarborough, ME4.8 mi · 22,135 people · home $551,900
- Portland, ME5.0 mi · 68,408 people · home $489,600
- Cape Elizabeth, ME6.1 mi · 9,535 people · home $731,600
- Westbrook, ME6.2 mi · 20,400 people · home $383,300
- Falmouth, ME7.5 mi · 12,444 people · home $767,500
- Old Orchard Beach, ME7.6 mi · 8,960 people · home $366,600
- Gorham, ME8.6 mi · 7,469 people · home $506,000
South Portland questions
Is South Portland, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Portland scores better for retirees than 34% of Maine towns and quieter than 3%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in South Portland?
The median owner-occupied home in South Portland is valued at $441,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,838, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,812 a month.
What is the weather like in South Portland?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 68.7 inches of snow.
Does South Portland get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Portland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 22, 1974. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)