As life in Maine gets more expensive, young people struggle to keep up

Maine Residents Say Affordability Is the State’s Biggest Hurdle, Survey Finds

By Maine News Now Staff

A statewide poll commissioned by the Maine Trust for Local News and conducted by the Siena Research Institute in July reveals that the cost of living is the dominant concern for Maine residents. The survey of 824 participants asked respondents to name the “worst thing about life in your community,” and the overwhelming answer was affordability.

Affordability Tops the List

More than 85 percent of those surveyed expressed a negative view of the availability of affordable housing in their communities. Two‑thirds said a typical person would struggle to afford quality housing. The sentiment was especially acute among younger adults, who cited rent, mortgage payments, and the inability to save for a down‑payment as constant stressors.

Housing Market Pressures

The data underscores a rapid escalation in property values across the state. In Buxton, a home that cost Justin Michaud roughly $250,000 in 2019 now sits on a street where comparable properties sell for more than double that amount. “I could not afford this house today if I were house shopping,” Michaud said. “I just don’t know how anyone can afford a house today that’s working in Maine.”

Outside‑of‑state buyers, many working remotely, have driven up demand in rural areas. In Lamoine, Mike Perlman, a freelance real‑estate photographer, noted that three‑bedroom homes are now listed for nearly $1 million, a price that would be out of reach for most young Mainers. “There’s no way that a young person can succeed,” he said. “This is not the American dream.”

Bar Harbor resident Nate Page described a similar scenario, where short‑term rentals and tourism have pushed housing costs “astronomically high.” He said younger workers at the local pharmacy often have to move twice a year to escape summer pricing.

Teacher Pay and Student Debt

Cade King, a 25‑year‑old science teacher at Maine Arts Academy in Kennebec County, exemplifies the broader financial strain on public‑service professionals. King’s salary is near the county average of about $40,000, a figure that leaves him struggling to pay down student loans while covering a mortgage, gas, and other rising expenses. His parents, both educators, help by cooking most evenings, a situation he finds “embarrassing” but unavoidable.

King’s experience mirrors the broader economic picture: stagnant wages paired with escalating costs for utilities, car repairs, medical care, and pet care. He noted that even essential transportation is a burden. “I just threw like between $10,000 and $20,000 down the drain, basically,” he said of a recent transmission failure on his first car.

Transportation Challenges

Maine’s rural nature makes personal vehicles a necessity for most residents. The Siena report shows 61 percent of Mainers rate public‑transportation access as worse than in other parts of the country. In the Bangor area, an 11‑route bus system runs only every two hours and does not operate on weekends, forcing many to rely on costly ride‑share services. “An Uber from Brewer to Old Town, which is about a 20‑minute drive, is $40,” said Kaitlyn Groh, who rents a three‑bedroom house in Bangor for $1,400 a month.

Groh, who works in domestic‑violence advocacy for the Penobscot Nation, added that unreliable transportation can be a major barrier to securing stable employment for survivors.

Employment Outlook

Despite the financial strain, younger Mainers (ages 18‑34) remain relatively optimistic about career advancement. More than 40 percent of this age group said they believed they could obtain a job with opportunities to move up, compared with 29 percent of older respondents. However, half of all surveyed expressed negative feelings about the ability to “obtain suitable employment,” and 16 percent described current job conditions as poor. Only 4 percent rated them as excellent.

Ty Dalton, a 33‑year‑old chef from Alna, echoed the sentiment. He earns a solid income but says his financial goals remain out of reach. “I don’t know if I’ll ever own a home,” he said, adding that an $8,000 medical bill for shoulder surgery threatens to plunge him further into debt.

The Ripple Effect

King observes a pattern among his peers: many are entering public‑service careers—teaching, government work, health care—positions that are essential but often low‑paid. Senior and managerial roles in these fields are largely occupied by an aging workforce, limiting upward mobility for younger employees.

He fears that the outflow of young talent could become a long‑term problem for the state, especially outside the Portland metro area. “The lack of young people around is a result of the fact that there’s no opportunity, or that a lot of young people just can’t see a life for themselves here,” he said. “That’s really challenging, not just for the state, but for the psychology of a young person.”

Looking Ahead

The survey’s findings have sparked discussion about policy options. The Maine Trust for Local News said it will continue to explore the data and amplify the voices of participants in the weeks ahead. For now, residents like King, Groh, Michaud, and others remain focused on navigating a cost‑of‑living environment that many describe as untenable.

“Maine is a beautiful place, but the reality of affording a decent life here is getting harder,” said Groh. “We need solutions that keep our communities vibrant and our young people here.”