#1Cumberland
Cumberland County · 8,876 peopleStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: cost of living D
DCostA+SafetyASchoolsA+HealthA+JobsC+WalkA−Hazards
Cumberland, #1 on this list · Winn Road School · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0Maine rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Maine
Cumberland ranks first of Maine’s 121 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A+: safety (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (D) is its lowest. 23 of the 121 (19%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#1A+
#3Cape Elizabeth
Cumberland County · 9,827 peopleStrongest: health A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D
DCostA+SafetyA+SchoolsA+HealthAJobsC+WalkAHazards
#5Raymond
Cumberland County · 4,670 peopleStrongest: health A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability B
B+Cost–SafetyBSchoolsAHealthB+JobsBWalkA−Hazards
Where they are: Seven of the top 10 are in Cumberland County.
All 121 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 142 Maine towns.
121 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1CumberlandCumberland County · 8,876 people74.1top 2.0%A+Strongest: safety A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: cost of living D
3Cape ElizabethCumberland County · 9,827 people73.4top 2.7%A+Strongest: health A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D
5RaymondCumberland County · 4,670 people70.7top 5.8%AStrongest: health A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability B
8YarmouthCumberland County · 9,062 people68.0top 10.1%AStrongest: schools A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
9FreeportCumberland County · 8,934 people67.5top 11.3%AStrongest: schools A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C−
11EliotYork County · 7,643 people66.4top 13.7%AStrongest: safety A+, health A−·lowest: cost of living D
13New GloucesterCumberland County · 5,964 people65.8top 14.9%AStrongest: hazard risk A−, health A−·lowest: schools B−
14BristolLincoln County · 2,969 people65.3top 15.9%A−Strongest: schools A+, health A−·lowest: jobs & income C+
15North YarmouthCumberland County · 4,424 people65.3top 15.9%A−Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C−
16HampdenPenobscot County · 8,078 people65.3top 16.0%A−Strongest: safety A, schools A−·lowest: walkability C−
17ChinaKennebec County · 4,636 people65.2top 16.3%A−Strongest: hazard risk A−, health B+·lowest: walkability B−
18Bar HarborHancock County · 5,352 people64.9top 17.0%A−Strongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
19WoolwichSagadahoc County · 3,287 people64.2top 18.5%A−Strongest: health A−, schools B+·lowest: walkability C−
20South BerwickYork County · 7,941 people64.0top 19.0%A−Strongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living D
21WinterportWaldo County · 3,838 people63.6top 20.0%A−Strongest: schools A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability C−
23ArundelYork County · 4,596 people63.1top 21.1%A−Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C
25KennebunkportYork County · 3,717 people62.8top 22.0%A−Strongest: schools A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D
26RockportKnox County · 3,628 people62.7top 22.1%A−Strongest: schools A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D
27HallowellKennebec County · 2,624 people62.6top 22.4%A−Strongest: safety A, walkability A·lowest: hazard risk D
28CamdenKnox County · 5,204 people62.5top 22.7%A−Strongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D−
29ReadfieldKennebec County · 2,730 people62.1top 23.6%A−Strongest: hazard risk A, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
30TopshamSagadahoc County · 9,982 people62.0top 24.1%A−Strongest: schools A−, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
31BuxtonYork County · 8,681 people61.7top 24.8%A−Strongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability C
33OaklandKennebec County · 6,361 people61.4top 25.9%B+Strongest: safety A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability C−
34HarpswellCumberland County · 5,102 people61.4top 25.9%B+Strongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C−
36BathSagadahoc County · 8,835 people60.5top 28.1%B+Strongest: walkability A, safety A−·lowest: jobs & income C+
37HoldenPenobscot County · 3,438 people60.1top 29.1%B+Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
38North BerwickYork County · 5,355 people59.9top 29.6%B+Strongest: safety A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C
39WaterboroYork County · 8,219 people59.6top 30.5%B+Strongest: hazard risk B+, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability D
40RichmondSagadahoc County · 3,609 people59.4top 30.9%B+Strongest: safety A+, health B−·lowest: walkability C
41BowdoinSagadahoc County · 3,254 people58.9top 32.2%B+Strongest: schools A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability D−
42TurnerAndroscoggin County · 6,127 people58.4top 33.4%B+Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: walkability C
44LymanYork County · 4,713 people58.2top 34.0%B+Strongest: hazard risk A−, schools B+·lowest: walkability C
45BelgradeKennebec County · 3,541 people58.2top 34.1%B+Strongest: health A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: walkability D
46MonmouthKennebec County · 4,252 people57.7top 35.6%BStrongest: safety A+, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
47Blue HillHancock County · 2,798 people57.3top 36.4%BStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C
48WinthropKennebec County · 6,158 people57.3top 36.6%BStrongest: hazard risk A, safety B+·lowest: walkability C+
49LimerickYork County · 3,575 people57.2top 36.9%BStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability C
50DurhamAndroscoggin County · 4,399 people56.7top 38.0%BStrongest: schools A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
51ChelseaKennebec County · 2,848 people56.7top 38.0%BStrongest: schools A−, hazard risk B·lowest: health C
53ShapleighYork County · 3,025 people55.3top 41.8%BStrongest: hazard risk A−, schools B+·lowest: walkability C
54WaldoboroLincoln County · 5,324 people55.0top 42.6%BStrongest: safety B+, health B+·lowest: walkability C−
55BerwickYork County · 8,436 people54.9top 42.9%BStrongest: jobs & income A−, health A−·lowest: walkability C−
56OrringtonPenobscot County · 3,912 people54.7top 43.5%BStrongest: jobs & income A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: walkability C−
57LimingtonYork County · 4,173 people54.6top 43.6%BStrongest: jobs & income A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
58SabattusAndroscoggin County · 5,397 people54.6top 43.7%BStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability C−
59Fort KentAroostook County · 4,151 people54.5top 44.1%BStrongest: safety A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C
60GrayCumberland County · 8,676 people54.3top 44.4%BStrongest: health A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability C−
61HollisYork County · 5,003 people54.2top 44.9%BStrongest: jobs & income A−, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability C
62LisbonAndroscoggin County · 9,919 people53.6top 46.3%B−Strongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: schools C
63AlfredYork County · 3,188 people53.3top 47.4%B−Strongest: hazard risk B+, schools B+·lowest: walkability C−
64LebanonYork County · 6,801 people52.9top 48.5%B−Strongest: jobs & income B+, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability C−
65JeffersonLincoln County · 2,728 people52.7top 49.0%B−Strongest: schools B, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C+
66BelfastWaldo County · 6,988 people52.3bottom 49.9%B−Strongest: walkability A−, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C
67WindsorKennebec County · 2,758 people51.9bottom 48.6%B−Strongest: schools A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: walkability C−
68ActonYork County · 2,735 people51.8bottom 48.4%B−Strongest: hazard risk A−, schools B+·lowest: walkability C−
69LincolnPenobscot County · 4,971 people51.6bottom 47.9%B−Strongest: safety A+, hazard risk A−·lowest: jobs & income D
70BucksportHancock County · 5,066 people51.5bottom 47.5%B−Strongest: safety A−, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D
71West GardinerKennebec County · 3,678 people51.5bottom 47.5%B−Strongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C+
72ClintonKennebec County · 3,378 people51.2bottom 46.9%B−Strongest: safety A, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D
73BoothbayLincoln County · 3,155 people50.9bottom 46.1%B−Strongest: health B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: cost of living C
74Dover-FoxcroftPiscataquis County · 4,463 people50.9bottom 46.0%B−Strongest: safety A, walkability B·lowest: health C
75EllsworthHancock County · 8,862 people50.3bottom 44.3%C+Strongest: health A−, walkability A−·lowest: safety C
76MadawaskaAroostook County · 3,846 people50.3bottom 44.3%C+Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D
77GlenburnPenobscot County · 4,825 people50.0bottom 43.8%C+Strongest: schools A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D
79MilfordPenobscot County · 3,117 people49.2bottom 41.3%C+Strongest: schools B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
80BowdoinhamSagadahoc County · 3,210 people48.5bottom 39.5%C+Strongest: schools A−, health B·lowest: walkability C−
81WarrenKnox County · 5,099 people47.9bottom 37.7%C+Strongest: jobs & income B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: schools C
82GardinerKennebec County · 6,206 people47.9bottom 37.5%C+Strongest: walkability B+, safety B·lowest: jobs & income C
83CaribouAroostook County · 7,321 people47.2bottom 35.7%C+Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
84HermonPenobscot County · 6,982 people47.1bottom 35.5%C+Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D
85CalaisWashington County · 3,083 people47.0bottom 35.3%C+Strongest: walkability B+, safety B+·lowest: jobs & income D
86St. GeorgeKnox County · 2,595 people46.7bottom 34.6%CStrongest: health B+, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
87JayFranklin County · 4,639 people46.6bottom 34.2%CStrongest: cost of living B+, safety B·lowest: schools D
88WinslowKennebec County · 8,063 people46.5bottom 34.2%CStrongest: safety B+, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C
89Old Orchard BeachYork County · 9,533 people46.1bottom 33.0%CStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income C
90CorinthPenobscot County · 3,139 people45.7bottom 32.2%CStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
91LitchfieldKennebec County · 3,797 people45.7bottom 32.0%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: schools C−
92PittstonKennebec County · 3,418 people45.3bottom 30.9%CStrongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B−·lowest: walkability D−
93FarmingdaleKennebec County · 3,000 people45.0bottom 30.2%CStrongest: schools B, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability C−
94RocklandKnox County · 7,142 people44.6bottom 29.1%CStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income C−
95SidneyKennebec County · 4,929 people44.3bottom 28.6%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, schools B+·lowest: walkability D
96WiltonFranklin County · 3,878 people43.7bottom 27.0%CStrongest: cost of living B+, safety B+·lowest: jobs & income D
97MinotAndroscoggin County · 2,866 people43.6bottom 26.9%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C−
98FryeburgOxford County · 3,576 people43.6bottom 26.9%CStrongest: safety B+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C
99FarmingtonFranklin County · 8,258 people43.4bottom 26.5%CStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
100Mechanic FallsAndroscoggin County · 3,286 people43.0bottom 25.4%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: schools C−
101BrewerPenobscot County · 9,636 people42.9bottom 25.2%CStrongest: schools B, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C−
103BentonKennebec County · 2,821 people42.2bottom 23.7%C−Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: walkability C−
105Old TownPenobscot County · 7,589 people41.8bottom 22.8%C−Strongest: walkability B+, safety B+·lowest: schools C−
106CascoCumberland County · 3,779 people41.8bottom 22.8%C−Strongest: hazard risk B+, health B·lowest: schools C−
107NaplesCumberland County · 4,128 people41.2bottom 21.4%C−Strongest: hazard risk A−, health B+·lowest: schools C−
108MillinocketPenobscot County · 4,095 people40.7bottom 20.5%C−Strongest: cost of living A, schools C+·lowest: health D
110MadisonSomerset County · 4,888 people40.0bottom 19.0%C−Strongest: hazard risk B+, walkability B·lowest: health D
111CarmelPenobscot County · 3,031 people39.9bottom 18.8%C−Strongest: hazard risk B, jobs & income B−·lowest: cost of living C
112HancockHancock County · 2,593 people39.4bottom 18.0%C−Strongest: hazard risk B+, health B+·lowest: schools D
113DexterPenobscot County · 3,874 people39.4bottom 17.9%C−Strongest: hazard risk A, safety B+·lowest: health D
114HoultonAroostook County · 6,056 people39.2bottom 17.5%C−Strongest: hazard risk B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
116BridgtonCumberland County · 5,965 people39.1bottom 17.3%C−Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: schools C−
117GreeneAndroscoggin County · 4,551 people39.1bottom 17.2%C−Strongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability D
118PolandAndroscoggin County · 6,098 people39.0bottom 17.1%C−Strongest: hazard risk A−, health B·lowest: walkability D
119WiscassetLincoln County · 3,998 people38.7bottom 16.3%C−Strongest: safety B+, jobs & income B·lowest: schools D
120NewportPenobscot County · 3,192 people38.5bottom 16.1%C−Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety B·lowest: schools C
121FairfieldSomerset County · 6,537 people38.5bottom 16.0%C−Strongest: hazard risk B−, walkability B−·lowest: health C−
122ParisOxford County · 5,409 people37.2bottom 13.8%DStrongest: hazard risk B+, safety B·lowest: schools D
123ThomastonKnox County · 2,751 people36.8bottom 13.2%DStrongest: hazard risk B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C−
124PittsfieldSomerset County · 3,935 people36.3bottom 12.5%DStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
125Presque IsleAroostook County · 8,694 people36.3bottom 12.5%DStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: health C−
127Fort FairfieldAroostook County · 3,285 people35.7bottom 11.5%DStrongest: hazard risk A, safety B+·lowest: walkability D
128SkowheganSomerset County · 8,676 people35.5bottom 11.2%DStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B·lowest: health C−
129SearsportWaldo County · 2,737 people35.5bottom 11.2%DStrongest: hazard risk B, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C−
130LevantPenobscot County · 3,289 people34.7bottom 10.2%DStrongest: hazard risk A−, jobs & income C+·lowest: walkability D
131MexicoOxford County · 2,779 people34.2bottom 9.7%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B·lowest: schools D
132OxfordOxford County · 4,449 people34.0bottom 9.4%DStrongest: walkability B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: schools D
133NorwayOxford County · 5,349 people33.8bottom 9.2%DStrongest: hazard risk B+, safety B·lowest: schools D
134BethelOxford County · 2,751 people33.7bottom 9.0%DStrongest: hazard risk B, health B−·lowest: jobs & income D
135VassalboroKennebec County · 4,647 people33.5bottom 8.8%DStrongest: health B, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability D
136HarrisonCumberland County · 2,639 people32.9bottom 8.0%DStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D
139RumfordOxford County · 6,025 people29.5bottom 4.4%D−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D
141Livermore FallsAndroscoggin County · 3,229 people28.4bottom 3.6%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
142NorridgewockSomerset County · 3,304 people27.1bottom 2.6%D−Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: walkability D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Maine. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Maine?
Among 121 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Cumberland (Cumberland County) ranks first, with an A+; safety (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (D) is its lowest. Cape Elizabeth and Raymond follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Maine. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (121 in Maine). 142 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Maine page.
Go deeper
All Maine rankings →More Maine lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live142 towns · #1 CumberlandMost affordable towns143 towns · #1 MillinocketSafest towns78 towns · #1 RichmondTowns with the best schools142 towns · #1 Cape ElizabethHealthiest towns143 towns · #1 Cape ElizabethBest towns for jobs & income143 towns · #1 CumberlandMost walkable towns143 towns · #1 PortlandTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk143 towns · #1 BridgtonBest towns for the outdoors143 towns · #1 Bar HarborMost historic towns143 towns · #1 HallowellTowns with the most civic life143 towns · #1 CamdenTowns with the least snow141 towns · #1 BerwickDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns141 towns · #1 CaribouDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters142 towns · #1 KitteryDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers142 towns · #1 South BerwickDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers142 towns · #1 St. GeorgeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes143 towns · #1 CumberlandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes143 towns · #1 CorinthDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns141 towns · #1 PittstonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries97 towns · #1 CamdenDescribed, no letters
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