Cost of Living in Scarborough
Scarborough's cost of living runs genuinely above both Maine statewide and national medians, driven primarily by housing rather than taxes.
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Learn moreHousing carries the real premium
Scarborough's median sold price ($741,500-$799,000, 2026) ran roughly 1.6x the Maine statewide median and well above the ~$408,776 national comparison figure.
Rent also runs above statewide averages
Average apartment rent ran approximately $1,975-$2,366/month, above the ~$1,950 Maine statewide average; average house rent ran approximately $2,775/month.
Property taxes run only modestly elevated
Scarborough's effective property tax rate (~1.09%) ran only modestly above the 1.02% national median -- the town's high tax BILLS ($6,380 median) reflect elevated home values more than an unusually high rate.
Key takeaways
- Scarborough's housing costs run roughly 1.6x the Maine statewide median.
- Rent runs above the Maine statewide average for both apartments and houses.
- Property tax RATES run only modestly above the national median; BILLS run high due to home values.
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