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Bar Harbor, MEBar Harbor, #1 on this list · Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Maine rankings · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in Maine

Bar Harbor and Camden share first place on outdoors among Maine’s 143 towns of 2,500+; 31 of the 143 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work

#T1

Bar Harbor

Hancock County · 5,352 people
A+

Outdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 142 in ME

#T1

Camden

Knox County · 5,204 people
A+

Outdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 142 in ME

#3

Portland

Cumberland County · 69,911 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 142 in ME

All 143 towns

Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 29 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

143 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
T1Bar HarborHancock County · 5,352 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 142
T1CamdenKnox County · 5,204 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 142
3PortlandCumberland County · 69,911 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 142
4FalmouthCumberland County · 12,982 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 142
5BathSagadahoc County · 8,835 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 142
6BrunswickCumberland County · 23,055 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 142
7YarmouthCumberland County · 9,062 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 142
8Cape ElizabethCumberland County · 9,827 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 142
T9RockportKnox County · 3,628 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 142
T9South BerwickYork County · 7,941 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 142
11KennebunkportYork County · 3,717 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 142
12BiddefordYork County · 22,399 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 142
13BangorPenobscot County · 32,518 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 142
14KitteryYork County · 11,420 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 142
15FreeportCumberland County · 8,934 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 142
16WestbrookCumberland County · 21,565 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 142
17North YarmouthCumberland County · 4,424 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 142
18RichmondSagadahoc County · 3,609 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 142
T19AugustaKennebec County · 19,155 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #140 of 142
T19BridgtonCumberland County · 5,965 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 142
T19YorkYork County · 14,293 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 142
22CumberlandCumberland County · 8,876 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 142
23CalaisWashington County · 3,083 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #85 of 142
24HallowellKennebec County · 2,624 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 142
25RocklandKnox County · 7,142 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 142
T26BrewerPenobscot County · 9,636 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 142
T26ScarboroughCumberland County · 24,547 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 142
28KennebunkYork County · 12,152 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 142
29HarpswellCumberland County · 5,102 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 142
T30SkowheganSomerset County · 8,676 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #128 of 142
T30WatervilleKennebec County · 17,579 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 142
32FryeburgOxford County · 3,576 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 142
T33LisbonAndroscoggin County · 9,919 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #62 of 142
T33South PortlandCumberland County · 27,007 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #52 of 142
35StandishCumberland County · 11,000 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 142
36ShapleighYork County · 3,025 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #53 of 142
37Presque IsleAroostook County · 8,694 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #125 of 142
38MillinocketPenobscot County · 4,095 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 142
T39EllsworthHancock County · 8,862 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 142
T39Old Orchard BeachYork County · 9,533 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 142
41PolandAndroscoggin County · 6,098 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 142
42TopshamSagadahoc County · 9,982 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 142
43NaplesCumberland County · 4,128 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 142
44BoothbayLincoln County · 3,155 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #73 of 142
45Old TownPenobscot County · 7,589 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 142
T46SacoYork County · 21,159 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 142
T46SearsportWaldo County · 2,737 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #129 of 142
48RumfordOxford County · 6,025 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #139 of 142
49CascoCumberland County · 3,779 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 142
50Orono College campusPenobscot County · 12,421 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A
51BowdoinhamSagadahoc County · 3,210 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #80 of 142
52EliotYork County · 7,643 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 142
53GorhamCumberland County · 19,239 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 142
54Blue HillHancock County · 2,798 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 142
55HancockHancock County · 2,593 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 142
56SanfordYork County · 22,663 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 142
57New GloucesterCumberland County · 5,964 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 142
58LimingtonYork County · 4,173 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #57 of 142
59Fort KentAroostook County · 4,151 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #59 of 142
60BelfastWaldo County · 6,988 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #66 of 142
61BristolLincoln County · 2,969 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 142
T62AuburnAndroscoggin County · 25,441 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #126 of 142
T62LymanYork County · 4,713 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #44 of 142
64WindhamCumberland County · 19,912 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 142
65PittsfieldSomerset County · 3,935 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #124 of 142
66JeffersonLincoln County · 2,728 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #65 of 142
67NorwayOxford County · 5,349 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 142
68ThomastonKnox County · 2,751 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #123 of 142
69JayFranklin County · 4,639 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 142
70HarrisonCumberland County · 2,639 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 142
71GreeneAndroscoggin County · 4,551 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 142
T72LewistonAndroscoggin County · 38,866 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 142
T72WiltonFranklin County · 3,878 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 142
74Dover-FoxcroftPiscataquis County · 4,463 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #74 of 142
75HollisYork County · 5,003 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 142
76BuxtonYork County · 8,681 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 142
77WarrenKnox County · 5,099 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #81 of 142
78BerwickYork County · 8,436 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #55 of 142
79GardinerKennebec County · 6,206 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #82 of 142
80ReadfieldKennebec County · 2,730 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 142
81Livermore FallsAndroscoggin County · 3,229 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #141 of 142
82ActonYork County · 2,735 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #68 of 142
83MadawaskaAroostook County · 3,846 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 142
84MilfordPenobscot County · 3,117 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 142
T85FairfieldSomerset County · 6,537 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 142
T85HermonPenobscot County · 6,982 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #84 of 142
87LitchfieldKennebec County · 3,797 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 142
T88CaribouAroostook County · 7,321 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #83 of 142
T88WoolwichSagadahoc County · 3,287 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 142
90WaldoboroLincoln County · 5,324 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #54 of 142
91FarmingtonFranklin County · 8,258 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 142
92WellsYork County · 12,094 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #32 of 142
93OxfordOxford County · 4,449 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 142
94MexicoOxford County · 2,779 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 142
95MadisonSomerset County · 4,888 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 142
96TurnerAndroscoggin County · 6,127 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 142
97VassalboroKennebec County · 4,647 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 142
98BethelOxford County · 2,751 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 142
99WaterboroYork County · 8,219 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 142
T100BelgradeKennebec County · 3,541 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 142
T100GrayCumberland County · 8,676 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #60 of 142
102WinslowKennebec County · 8,063 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 142
103RaymondCumberland County · 4,670 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 142
104Fort FairfieldAroostook County · 3,285 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #127 of 142
105WindsorKennebec County · 2,758 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #67 of 142
106WiscassetLincoln County · 3,998 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 142
107ParisOxford County · 5,409 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #122 of 142
108WinthropKennebec County · 6,158 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 142
109St. GeorgeKnox County · 2,595 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 142
110ChinaKennebec County · 4,636 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 142
111OaklandKennebec County · 6,361 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #33 of 142
112DexterPenobscot County · 3,874 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 142
T113BucksportHancock County · 5,066 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #70 of 142
T113GlenburnPenobscot County · 4,825 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #77 of 142
115DurhamAndroscoggin County · 4,399 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 142
116MinotAndroscoggin County · 2,866 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 142
117HoultonAroostook County · 6,056 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 142
118ArundelYork County · 4,596 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 142
119AlfredYork County · 3,188 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 142
120ClintonKennebec County · 3,378 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #72 of 142
121Mechanic FallsAndroscoggin County · 3,286 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 142
122SidneyKennebec County · 4,929 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 142
123NewportPenobscot County · 3,192 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 142
124OrringtonPenobscot County · 3,912 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #56 of 142
125LebanonYork County · 6,801 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #64 of 142
126LimerickYork County · 3,575 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 142
127HampdenPenobscot County · 8,078 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 142
128MonmouthKennebec County · 4,252 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 142
129ChelseaKennebec County · 2,848 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 142
130BowdoinSagadahoc County · 3,254 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 142
131NorridgewockSomerset County · 3,304 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #142 of 142
132SabattusAndroscoggin County · 5,397 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #58 of 142
133North BerwickYork County · 5,355 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 142
134FarmingdaleKennebec County · 3,000 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 142
135LincolnPenobscot County · 4,971 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #69 of 142
136BentonKennebec County · 2,821 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 142
137PittstonKennebec County · 3,418 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 142
138HoldenPenobscot County · 3,438 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 142
139WinterportWaldo County · 3,838 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 142
140CorinthPenobscot County · 3,139 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 142
141West GardinerKennebec County · 3,678 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #71 of 142
142CarmelPenobscot County · 3,031 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 142
143LevantPenobscot County · 3,289 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #130 of 142
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Maine town is best for the outdoors?

Bar Harbor (Hancock County) and Camden (Knox County) share first place on outdoors among 143 towns.

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (143 in Maine). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Maine page.

Go deeper

More Maine lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Maine rankings →
Best places to live142 towns · #1 CumberlandBest small towns121 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 BridgtonMost 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 winters170 towns · #1 KitteryDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers170 towns · #1 South Berwick and South BerwickDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers170 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
Other states

Best towns for the outdoors in other states

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