The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Maine
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 152 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Maine. #1 is Camden, ME.
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25Rockport, Maine
Better for retirees than 83% of Maine towns
3,644 people · Knox County · median home $469,000 · income $86,979 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow
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24Madawaska, Maine
Better for retirees than 83% of Maine towns
3,867 people · Aroostook County · median home $156,300 · income $56,818 · Jan low 3°F · 98 in snow
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23Farmington, Maine
Better for retirees than 83% of Maine towns
7,592 people · Franklin County · median home $166,600 · income $54,276 · Jan low 6°F · 94 in snow
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22Searsport, Maine
Better for retirees than 84% of Maine towns
2,649 people · Waldo County · median home $224,400 · income $64,303 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow
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21Farmington, Maine
Better for retirees than 84% of Maine towns
4,168 people · Franklin County · median home $169,900 · income $41,033 · Jan low 6°F · 94 in snow
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20Kittery, Maine
Better for retirees than 85% of Maine towns
4,973 people · York County · median home $461,400 · income $84,730 · Jan low 16°F · 56 in snow
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19York Harbor, Maine
Better for retirees than 87% of Maine towns
3,132 people · York County · median home $627,700 · income $100,625 · Jan low 14°F · 70 in snow
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18St. George, Maine
Better for retirees than 88% of Maine towns
2,594 people · Knox County · median home $356,300 · income $89,155 · Jan low 17°F · 53 in snow
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17Woolwich, Maine
Better for retirees than 88% of Maine towns
3,068 people · Sagadahoc County · median home $254,500 · income $102,175 · Jan low 12°F · 72 in snow
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16South Eliot, Maine
Better for retirees than 89% of Maine towns
3,719 people · York County · median home $475,600 · income $99,299 · Jan low 15°F · 56 in snow
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15Eliot, Maine
Better for retirees than 89% of Maine towns
6,717 people · York County · median home $498,900 · income $101,522 · Jan low 15°F · 56 in snow
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14Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Better for retirees than 91% of Maine towns
2,776 people · Piscataquis County · median home $158,800 · income $56,250 · Jan low 3°F · 77 in snow
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13Blue Hill, Maine
Better for retirees than 91% of Maine towns
2,792 people · Hancock County · median home $399,500 · income $80,377 · Jan low 11°F · 72 in snow
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12Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Better for retirees than 91% of Maine towns
4,422 people · Piscataquis County · median home $162,600 · income $63,344 · Jan low 3°F · 77 in snow
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11Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Better for retirees than 91% of Maine towns
9,535 people · Cumberland County · median home $731,600 · income $145,821 · Jan low 16°F · 69 in snow
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10Bristol, Maine
Better for retirees than 92% of Maine towns
2,834 people · Lincoln County · median home $406,400 · income $100,750 · Jan low 15°F · 70 in snow
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9Kennebunkport, Maine
Better for retirees than 92% of Maine towns
3,629 people · York County · median home $740,500 · income $102,747 · Jan low 13°F · 49 in snow
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8Boothbay, Maine
Better for retirees than 93% of Maine towns
3,003 people · Lincoln County · median home $342,100 · income $60,320 · Jan low 14°F · 70 in snow
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7Harpswell, Maine
Better for retirees than 94% of Maine towns
5,031 people · Cumberland County · median home $609,700 · income $96,250 · Jan low 12°F · 71 in snow
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6Bar Harbor, Maine
Better for retirees than 96% of Maine towns
5,089 people · Hancock County · median home $538,400 · income $77,180 · Jan low 15°F
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5Kennebunk, Maine
Better for retirees than 97% of Maine towns
5,776 people · York County · median home $452,800 · income $95,169 · Jan low 13°F · 49 in snow
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4Belfast, Maine
Better for retirees than 98% of Maine towns
6,938 people · Waldo County · median home $340,900 · income $67,679 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow
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3Hallowell, Maine
Better for retirees than 99% of Maine towns
2,570 people · Kennebec County · median home $295,300 · income $68,398 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow
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2Camden, Maine
Better for retirees than 100% of Maine towns
3,850 people · Knox County · median home $498,800 · income $78,788 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow
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1Camden, Maine
Better for retirees than 100% of Maine towns
5,232 people · Knox County · median home $520,600 · income $82,344 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow
Price vs ranking
More Maine rankings
- The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Maine
- The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Maine
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Maine
- 25 Small Towns in Maine With the Cheapest Homes
- 25 Small Towns in Maine With the Mildest Winters
- The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Maine
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Maine
- The 11 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Maine
- The 10 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Maine
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)