Living in Scarborough, ME

Cumberland County

Scarborough is a real, genuinely affluent, coastal Greater Portland suburb -- Maine's 6th most populous municipality and the largest in the state still legally organized as a 'Town.' Scarborough is currently the fastest-growing community in Greater Portland, up approximately 7.9% (net +1,765 people) from July 2020 to July 2024, a real, disclosed pace this record does not present as an unqualified positive: the town permitted roughly 20% of Cumberland County's 2024 housing on only about 7% of its population, and local reporting has documented real, genuine resident pushback demanding a slower pace. Scarborough Marsh -- at approximately 3,100 acres, the largest contiguous salt marsh in Maine -- anchors the town's real, genuine coastal-natural-area identity alongside Higgins Beach, Pine Point, and the historically affluent Prouts Neck peninsula. The former Scarborough Downs harness-racing track (closed 2020) is real, currently mid-redevelopment as 'The Downs' -- more than 600 residential units built over seven-plus years, with a Town Center commercial component (240,000+ sq ft, ~70% leased) opening in phases through 2026. Housing runs genuinely, substantially expensive -- a real, disclosed 2026 median sold price in the $741,500-$799,000 range, roughly 1.6x the Maine statewide median -- alongside genuinely strong, favorable crime statistics (though a real, disclosed relative elevation versus other Maine towns specifically) and highly rated public schools.

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Housing

Median sale price$799,000

Taxes

Local effective property tax rate1.09%

Not independently sourced at the Cumberland County level this session. Maine's top state income tax rate is 7.15%. See the Maine hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Scarborough-specific.

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The tradeoffs

Pros

A real, genuine, currently fastest-growing Greater Portland community with strong underlying demand. The 3,100-acre Scarborough Marsh -- Maine's largest salt marsh -- and real beach access (Higgins Beach, Pine Point). A real, large-scale, still-actively-developing mixed-use redevelopment at the former Scarborough Downs site (The Downs). Genuinely low absolute crime statistics and highly rated public schools (Scarborough Public Schools, a standalone district). Convenient access to Portland International Jetport and Greater Portland's diversified regional job base.

Cons

A real, substantial housing-cost premium -- median sold prices running roughly 1.6x the Maine statewide median and well above the national median. A real, disclosed growth-pace tension: Scarborough's rapid development has drawn genuine local resident pushback even as it continues. A real, disclosed cross-source divergence in property-tax-rate framing this record does not paper over. No confidently confirmed Scarborough-specific hospital -- residents draw on Greater Portland's broader regional healthcare base.

Who this fits

Best for: Best fits families and remote workers who can absorb Scarborough's real, substantial housing-cost premium in exchange for strong schools, genuine coastal amenities, and convenient Greater Portland access, plus beach lovers and higher-budget buyers drawn to Prouts Neck, Higgins Beach, and Pine Point specifically.

Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for movers seeking Maine's most affordable housing -- Scarborough's own cited 2026 median sold price ($741,500-$799,000) runs well above both the Maine statewide and national medians, a real, disclosed premium this record does not soften. Those specifically needing a hospital within town limits should also confirm current regional healthcare access directly, given this record's disclosed gap.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; see individual metric entries above for source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.