Life In Maine
Located in the far northeastern corner of the United States, Maine is heavily defined by its massive landscape and fiercely independent culture. Life here is not just about the coastal towns; it is about the quiet isolation of the North Woods, the deep agricultural roots of Aroostook County, and a statewide obsession with eating incredibly well. Mainers take intense pride in their hyper-local traditions, from digging their own dinner out of the coastal mudflats to summiting...
Get pre-approved for Maine's programs in one business day with QuickApply.
Programs in Maine
LEARN MORE
Your place is calling, and we're here to help you get there – every step of the way.
Stay in the loop with Maine
We’ll notify you when new programs or opportunities open here.
Awards & Press
Maine Named One of the Best Places to Raise a Family
The Washington Post
Maine Named #4 Safest State in 2025
WalletHub
#2 Best State to Live In
Thrillist
10 Best Places to Live on the East Coast, According to Real Estate Experts
Travel + Leisure
Portland Named #1 City for Women Employees
Benefit News
Portland Named #5 Best City to Find a Job
WalletHub
Local Employers
L.L.Bean Corporate Headquarters
Headquartered in Freeport, this iconic outdoor retailer employs thousands of Maine residents across its corporate offices, retail flagship stores, and manufacturing facilities. The company remains deeply tied to the state's outdoor heritage, providing steady careers in retail management, apparel design, and direct-to-consumer logistics.
Investigate corporate and retail careers at L.L.Bean ->
#employers
Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics)
Located on the Kennebec River, this historic shipyard is one of the largest private employers in the state. Bath Iron Works specializes in the design and construction of complex guided-missile destroyers for the U.S. Navy, offering long-term, stable careers for marine engineers, welders, and defense logistics specialists.
Explore engineering and skilled trade careers at Bath Iron Works ->
#employers
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Situated in Kittery on the state's southern border, this sprawling federal facility is the U.S. Navy's premier site for the overhaul, repair, and modernization of nuclear-powered submarines. It provides incredibly reliable civilian defense jobs, employing thousands of mechanics, nuclear engineers, and technical tradespeople.
Discover civilian engineering and defense roles at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard ->
#employers
MaineHealth
Serving as the largest private employer in the state, this comprehensive health system is anchored by Maine Medical Center in Portland. With over 22,000 employees, MaineHealth operates hospitals and specialized clinics across the region, providing vital clinical, administrative, and technical career paths for residents.
Check out healthcare opportunities with MaineHealth ->
#employers
IDEXX Laboratories
Located in Westbrook, IDEXX is a multinational corporation specializing in veterinary diagnostics, veterinary practice software, and water microbiology testing. As a cornerstone of Maine's life sciences sector, the corporate headquarters provides lucrative corporate jobs in software development, biotechnology, and international sales.
Discover corporate and biotech careers at IDEXX ->
#employers
The Jackson Laboratory
Headquartered in Bar Harbor, this independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution is a global leader in mammalian genetics and human disease research. The facility brings world-class scientists and researchers to the Maine coast, offering highly specialized careers in genomics, bioinformatics, and laboratory administration.
Explore scientific and research roles at The Jackson Laboratory ->
#employers
L.L.Bean Corporate Headquarters
Headquartered in Freeport, this iconic outdoor retailer employs thousands of Maine residents across its corporate offices, retail flagship stores, and manufacturing facilities. The company remains deeply tied to the state's outdoor heritage, providing steady careers in retail management, apparel design, and direct-to-consumer logistics.
Investigate corporate and retail careers at L.L.Bean ->
#employers
Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics)
Located on the Kennebec River, this historic shipyard is one of the largest private employers in the state. Bath Iron Works specializes in the design and construction of complex guided-missile destroyers for the U.S. Navy, offering long-term, stable careers for marine engineers, welders, and defense logistics specialists.
Explore engineering and skilled trade careers at Bath Iron Works ->
#employers
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Situated in Kittery on the state's southern border, this sprawling federal facility is the U.S. Navy's premier site for the overhaul, repair, and modernization of nuclear-powered submarines. It provides incredibly reliable civilian defense jobs, employing thousands of mechanics, nuclear engineers, and technical tradespeople.
Discover civilian engineering and defense roles at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard ->
#employers
MaineHealth
Serving as the largest private employer in the state, this comprehensive health system is anchored by Maine Medical Center in Portland. With over 22,000 employees, MaineHealth operates hospitals and specialized clinics across the region, providing vital clinical, administrative, and technical career paths for residents.
Check out healthcare opportunities with MaineHealth ->
#employers
IDEXX Laboratories
Located in Westbrook, IDEXX is a multinational corporation specializing in veterinary diagnostics, veterinary practice software, and water microbiology testing. As a cornerstone of Maine's life sciences sector, the corporate headquarters provides lucrative corporate jobs in software development, biotechnology, and international sales.
Discover corporate and biotech careers at IDEXX ->
#employers
The Jackson Laboratory
Headquartered in Bar Harbor, this independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution is a global leader in mammalian genetics and human disease research. The facility brings world-class scientists and researchers to the Maine coast, offering highly specialized careers in genomics, bioinformatics, and laboratory administration.
Explore scientific and research roles at The Jackson Laboratory ->
#employers
L.L.Bean Corporate Headquarters
Headquartered in Freeport, this iconic outdoor retailer employs thousands of Maine residents across its corporate offices, retail flagship stores, and manufacturing facilities. The company remains deeply tied to the state's outdoor heritage, providing steady careers in retail management, apparel design, and direct-to-consumer logistics.
Investigate corporate and retail careers at L.L.Bean ->
#employers
Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics)
Located on the Kennebec River, this historic shipyard is one of the largest private employers in the state. Bath Iron Works specializes in the design and construction of complex guided-missile destroyers for the U.S. Navy, offering long-term, stable careers for marine engineers, welders, and defense logistics specialists.
Explore engineering and skilled trade careers at Bath Iron Works ->
#employers
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Situated in Kittery on the state's southern border, this sprawling federal facility is the U.S. Navy's premier site for the overhaul, repair, and modernization of nuclear-powered submarines. It provides incredibly reliable civilian defense jobs, employing thousands of mechanics, nuclear engineers, and technical tradespeople.
Discover civilian engineering and defense roles at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard ->
#employers
MaineHealth
Serving as the largest private employer in the state, this comprehensive health system is anchored by Maine Medical Center in Portland. With over 22,000 employees, MaineHealth operates hospitals and specialized clinics across the region, providing vital clinical, administrative, and technical career paths for residents.
Check out healthcare opportunities with MaineHealth ->
#employers
IDEXX Laboratories
Located in Westbrook, IDEXX is a multinational corporation specializing in veterinary diagnostics, veterinary practice software, and water microbiology testing. As a cornerstone of Maine's life sciences sector, the corporate headquarters provides lucrative corporate jobs in software development, biotechnology, and international sales.
Discover corporate and biotech careers at IDEXX ->
#employers
The Jackson Laboratory
Headquartered in Bar Harbor, this independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution is a global leader in mammalian genetics and human disease research. The facility brings world-class scientists and researchers to the Maine coast, offering highly specialized careers in genomics, bioinformatics, and laboratory administration.
Explore scientific and research roles at The Jackson Laboratory ->
#employers
Cost of Living Comparison
See how your current cost of living compares to life in Maine. Sign up to save your details and auto-load results next time.
MakeMyMove sources all Cost of Living Data from COLI, published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), without any modification or bias.
COLI data is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CNN Money. The data and methodology are described in detail and completely transparent to users, found in the COLI Manual. Both data and methodology are reviewed by an Advisory Board composed of academic researchers and government officials. The Cost of Living Index is referenced in the Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
According to the COLI Manual, composite differences of <4% and categorical differences of <5% are not statistically significant and should not be treated as necessarily accurate.
$
Other Price Comparisons
Check out all the ways your money compares in Maine.
Groceries
About the same
Utilities
About the same
Transportation
About the same
Healthcare
About the same
Misc
About the same
