Here’s Why Portland Remains the Most ‘Miserable’ City in Maine

Travel A Lot hasn't made many friends in Maine by declaring various towns and cities as some of the worst in America. But when you're good at something, you shouldn't quit. And they haven't.

Last year, Travel A Lot named Portland as the most 'miserable' city in the entire state. For 2023, they're not backing down on that claim. But before you prepare your snarky and mean-spirited tweet, this is one Travel A Lot claim that has some interesting reasoning behind their declaration.

What Makes Portland So Miserable?

It really all boils down to the cost of living. It isn't exactly breaking news to hear that real estate in Portland is very expensive. Rental prices have sharply increased in recent years, partially because of a spike in property taxes, but also because of a general overall hike in single and multi-family home values. What may come as a bit of a shock is that nearly one out of every five people living in Portland are doing so below the national poverty level.

The money troubles in Portland are compounded by how expensive the city is in general. The cost of goods in Portland are roughly 15% more expensive than the national average. As touched on above, the cost of housing in Portland is 25% higher than the national average, leading to substantial misery. Portland is now one of the top luxury real estate markets in all of New England.

It's Not All Bad for Portland

Travel A Lot gives Portland high marks for improving its crime rate over the last decade. Making neighborhoods safer is a key step to making property more desirable. Not mentioned by Travel A Lot is that Portland remains an international destination for food and beer, making it a prime location for summer homes for wealthier individuals.