What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Maine this week

Out of reach · #24 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Maine household earning $95,150 a year can afford a home of about $300,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Maine listing is $450,000, which would take 41.9% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$300,000

Affordable home price

+$1,981 vs. last week · −$13,875 vs. a year ago

$450,000

Median list price (September 2026)

±$0 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Maine 70 a year ago

41.9%

Share of income the median listing takes

$3,326/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$95,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#24

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $450,000 and median income of $90,440 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $314,000 and the median listing took 40.1% of income. Affordability in Maine has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#22 Virginia: can afford $316,000, median listing $456,000
#23 Arkansas: can afford $215,000, median listing $319,000
#25 Alabama: can afford $216,000, median listing $325,000
#26 Georgia: can afford $259,000, median listing $390,000

Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.