7 Best Places to Live in Maine
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in Maine with our detailed guide.
Median Age
49 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
18%
Over 65
31%
Scarborough
Scarborough, ME Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,161
Population
6,190
Renter Mix
33% Rent
Experience the unique and vibrant lifestyle of this coastal community
Coastal
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Ocean
•
Suburb
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Safe
•
Low Crime
•
Schools
•
Boating
•
Fishing
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Upscale
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Perched on Maine’s beautiful coastline, Scarborough is a small city just south of Portland. The ocean, hills, and forests of the region provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation: fishing, hiking, and skiing are popular here, and there’s even a surf shop in town. Functioning as a mostly residential suburb of the neighboring city, Scarborough’s landscape is defined by tranquil neighborhoods spread amongst the lush forests.
Rental options come in a broad variety of options, with numerous upscale houses and condos available from the center of town out into the surrounding countryside. In addition to the close proximity to Portland, living in Scarborough provides easy access to Interstate 95 and Portland International Jetport, making it a perfect spot for frequent travelers.
Explore the City
New apartment buildings are starting to pop up in the Scarborough neighborhood.
A row of oceanfront homes along Pine Point Beach.
Ferry Beach in Prouts Neck is a great place for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and paddling.
Boating is a popular activity in Prouts Neck.
Locals take an early Spring stroll on Pine Point Beach.
Pleasant Hill provides hiking opportunities.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$82,885
Average: $102,628
Education
2,341
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
3,572
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Scarborough has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
33%
Non-Renters
67%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
36%
Other Education
64%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Scarborough, ME is $1,808 for a studio, $2,158 for one bedroom, $2,546 for two bedrooms, and $2,803 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Scarborough has increased by 2.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,158/month
688 Sq Ft
Learn More About Scarborough
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Scarborough, ME is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
675 Students
Eight Corners Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
228 Students
Public
Grades K-5
213 Students
Public
Grades K-5
198 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
670 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
466 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
907 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
466 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
- Mayor Baxter Woods
- Southworth Planetarium
- Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine
- Crescent Beach State Park
Airports
- Portland International Jetport
Top Apartments in Scarborough
Houses for Rent in Scarborough
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.