What is the best gay city to live in Maine?
Which city in Maine is the top LGBTQ-friendliness while being the most affordable? Find out here on this episode. Then download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter, a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence.
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What’s the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly City in Maine?
What city’s the runner-up for most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly in Maine? Bangor! Why? The Human Rights Campaign gives it a 70 on its Municipal Equality Index. Home values average $257,000 a year, the lowest for Maine. Rent averages $1,466 a month for a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment. The cost of living is 84% of the national average, the second lowest for Maine. The average income is $59,000 annually, which is in the middle. Median income is $45,000 a year, also in the middle for Maine.
So, what is the winning city for the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly city in Maine? Portland! Why? Portland scored a 96 on HRC’s MEI. Home values average $520,000 per property, the second highest for Maine. Rent averages $2,349 per apartment, the second highest for Maine. The cost of living is 111.9% of the national average, the second highest for Maine. The average income is $72,000 yearly, the second highest for Maine. The median income is $59,000, the second highest for Maine.
Three municipalities make up the Portland metro area: Portland Propert, South Portland, and Scarborough. South Portland came in at a very close number three on our ranking but had a 71 on HRC’s MEI, which kept it from the two top spots on our list. Scarborough has the highest cost of living, which wasn’t outweighed by the state’s highest average and median incomes.
Some great things about Portland include that it is the biggest city in Maine, a seaside town. Downtown, Old Port, and West End are Portland’s more “gayborhood” areas. Pride, known as Portland Pride, is typically in the middle of June. It will be held on June 15, 2024. Portland also hosts the Portland Queer Film Festival, Gay Skate, and the Varsity Gay League, which plays all sorts of sports with a rainbow influence. Check out the Q Center and Rainbow Business Professionals for support, services, and networking.
Congratulations, Bangor and Portland!
If you’d like to see the results of all the cities in each state we’re analyzing, get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. or click the link in your podcast player for a growing analysis.
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Previous Bonus Podcast Episodes
- The Best Gay City to Live in Maryland
- The Best Gay City to Live in Massachusetts
- The Best Gay City to Live in Michigan
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