Do you live in one of the most miserable places in Maine?
Only a third of Mainers say they are truly happy. That’s too bad, considering that folks in Maine don’t really have it too bad in the grand scheme of things.
But, we were curious – which Maine cities might be the most miserable? We’re about to find out, using Saturday Night Science and data.
After analyzing the 21 largest cities, we sadly present the most miserable cities in the Pine Tree State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably don’t live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Hallowell is the happiest place in Maine.
For more Maine reading, check out:
The 10 Most Miserable Places In Maine For 2023
/10
Population: 23,790
Poverty Level: 11.1%
Median Home Price $190,000
Married Households 26.0%
Households With Kids 25.57%
More on Auburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 5,944
Poverty Level: 11.5%
Median Home Price $153,900
Married Households 34.0%
Households With Kids 22.37%
More on Gardiner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 18,895
Poverty Level: 19.3%
Median Home Price $149,500
Married Households 20.0%
Households With Kids 22.14%
More on Augusta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 36,615
Poverty Level: 16.3%
Median Home Price $157,500
Married Households 28.0%
Households With Kids 23.62%
More on Lewiston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 22,331
Poverty Level: 13.3%
Median Home Price $278,300
Married Households 24.0%
Households With Kids 22.56%
More on Biddeford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 15,872
Poverty Level: 23.1%
Median Home Price $137,100
Married Households 22.0%
Households With Kids 24.16%
More on Waterville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
/10
Population: 20,203
Poverty Level: 9.3%
Median Home Price $289,800
Married Households 25.0%
Households With Kids 32.46%
More on Saco: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 8,718
Poverty Level: 12.4%
Median Home Price $211,800
Married Households 26.0%
Households With Kids 27.99%
More on Bath: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 6,977
Poverty Level: 14.0%
Median Home Price $173,600
Married Households 15.0%
Households With Kids 19.36%
More on Rockland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Methodology: How We Measured The Most Miserable Cities In The Pine Tree State
To rank the unhappiest places in Maine, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2017-2021 report for the happy criteria, flipped the list with Saturday Night Science, and it spit out the answer.
Like magic.
Here are the criteria we used to measure misery:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of families with kids
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 21 places in Maine with over 2,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 21 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the most miserable (Any ties were given to the larger place).
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Miserable Index for each place with the lowest overall Miserable Index “earning” the title “Most Miserable City In Maine.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of states, most miserable to happiest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2023, and it’s our tenth time ranking the most miserable cities in Maine.
There You Have It – The Least Happy Cities In Maine
As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in Maine is usually a subjective matter.
But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
If you’re curious enough, here are the happiest cities in Maine, according to science:
- Hallowell
- Portland
- Caribou
For more Maine reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Maine
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maine
- Richest Cities In Maine
- Safest Places In Maine
- Worst Places To Live In Maine
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Maine
Miserable Cities In Maine For 2023
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn, ME | 23,790 | 11.1% | $190,000 | 26.0% | 25.57% |
| 2 | Gardiner, ME | 5,944 | 11.5% | $153,900 | 34.0% | 22.37% |
| 3 | Augusta, ME | 18,895 | 19.3% | $149,500 | 20.0% | 22.14% |
| 4 | Lewiston, ME | 36,615 | 16.3% | $157,500 | 28.0% | 23.62% |
| 5 | Biddeford, ME | 22,331 | 13.3% | $278,300 | 24.0% | 22.56% |
| 6 | Waterville, ME | 15,872 | 23.1% | $137,100 | 22.0% | 24.16% |
| 7 | Calais, ME | 3,010 | 18.7% | $100,300 | 28.0% | 21.39% |
| 8 | Saco, ME | 20,203 | 9.3% | $289,800 | 25.0% | 32.46% |
| 9 | Bath, ME | 8,718 | 12.4% | $211,800 | 26.0% | 27.99% |
| 10 | Rockland, ME | 6,977 | 14.0% | $173,600 | 15.0% | 19.36% |
| 11 | Bangor, ME | 31,920 | 16.1% | $162,900 | 22.0% | 23.06% |
| 12 | Presque Isle, ME | 8,859 | 15.9% | $119,600 | 33.0% | 22.4% |
| 13 | Ellsworth, ME | 8,340 | 8.4% | $174,200 | 27.0% | 18.99% |
| 14 | Westbrook, ME | 20,074 | 10.3% | $253,900 | 28.0% | 21.78% |
| 15 | South Portland, ME | 26,428 | 6.0% | $293,700 | 22.0% | 20.96% |
| 16 | Old Town, ME | 7,415 | 21.2% | $145,000 | 28.0% | 27.45% |
| 17 | Brewer, ME | 9,606 | 15.5% | $172,800 | 28.0% | 26.14% |
| 18 | Belfast, ME | 6,890 | 18.8% | $199,100 | 20.0% | 20.41% |
| 19 | Caribou, ME | 7,448 | 13.8% | $99,300 | 34.0% | 18.08% |
| 20 | Portland, ME | 68,063 | 12.7% | $341,700 | 13.0% | 18.5% |
| 21 | Hallowell, ME | 2,542 | 12.4% | $219,700 | 17.0% | 13.58% |