Department of Numbers

Maine Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Maine was $870 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $850 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Maine median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Maine rental vacancy rates, Maine rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Maine.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Maine (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Maine Median Gross Rent $870 +1.87% +4.19%

Maine Real Gross Rent Trends

At $870, real median gross rent in Maine was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Maine peaked in real terms in 2018 at $853 and is now $3 (0.35%) lower.

Real Gross Rent in Maine: Median, Average, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Maine

Date US Median Maine Median Maine Average
2019 $1,097 $870 $850
2018 $1,077 $854 $853
2017 $1,043 $831 $802
2016 $1,027 $835 $819
2015 $1,017 $840 $822
2014 $986 $819 $797
2013 $953 $800 $791
2012 $940 $791 $789
2011 $941 $807 $797
2010 $955 $790 $760
2009 $960 $823 $792

more history ...

Maine Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Maine was 4.95% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Maine

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Maine 4.95% -0.33% -1.79%

Trends in Maine Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Maine peaked in 2010 at 8.75%. Since then it has fallen by 3.80% to 4.95%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Maine, US

Rental vacancy rate in Maine

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Maine

Date US Maine
2019 5.97% 4.95%
2018 6.15% 5.28%
2017 6.18% 8.41%
2016 5.89% 6.74%
2015 5.85% 5.29%
2014 6.32% 7.07%
2013 6.49% 7.17%
2012 6.77% 6.25%
2011 7.40% 7.67%
2010 8.17% 8.75%
2009 8.43% 7.36%

more history ...

Maine Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Maine, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Maine, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.72% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Maine Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Maine 17.72% -0.39% -0.30%

Trends in Maine Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Maine household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.47%. Since then it has fallen by 1.76% to 17.72%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Maine, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Maine

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Maine

Date US Maine
2019 20.03% 17.72%
2018 20.50% 18.11%
2017 20.13% 17.19%
2016 20.43% 18.02%
2015 20.63% 18.46%
2014 20.89% 18.83%
2013 20.78% 19.41%
2012 20.65% 19.11%
2011 20.70% 19.47%
2010 20.50% 18.52%
2009 20.12% 18.94%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Maine

You can calculate the renter fraction in Maine in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Maine as a fraction of total Maine households. In 2019 27.81% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Maine Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Maine 27.81% -0.96% -0.32%

Trends in the Maine Renter Fraction

The Maine household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 29.84% and is now 2.03% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Maine, US

Fraction of renters in Maine

History of Maine Renter Fraction

Date US Maine
2019 35.89% 27.81%
2018 36.05% 28.77%
2017 36.13% 26.83%
2016 36.88% 28.13%
2015 36.97% 29.00%
2014 36.90% 28.68%
2013 36.50% 29.84%
2012 36.09% 28.59%
2011 35.42% 29.05%
2010 34.65% 27.32%
2009 34.13% 27.26%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.