Rankings: Maine vs. Other States

How does Maine rank in comparison to other states?

How does Maine rank in comparison to other states?

Maine is in a competition with other states for jobs, workers, and investments – critical ingredients for economic growth. States that are winning this competition are more self-sufficient and better able to support families, build wealth, grow communities, and generate tax revenue to fund public services. So, how does Maine rank among the 50 states?

Economy

Maine’s economy ranks #43 (8th worst)

Source: WalletHub 2025 “Best and Worst State Economies

At $65,267, Maine’s per capita real GDP ranks #40 (11th lowest)

Maine’s gross domestic product ranks #43 (8th lowest).

Business Climate

Maine’s business friendliness ranks #37 (14th worst)

Maine’s business environment ranks #43 (8th worst)

Maine ranks #45 (6th worst) for best states to start a business in 2024.

Maine’s ranks #42 (9th worst) for top states for businesses.

Investment

Maine ranks #41 (10th lowest) for venture capital investment.

Maine Ranks #40 (11th worst) for Access to Capital for businesses.

Infrastructure

Maine’s infrastructure ranks #49 (2nd worst)

Income and Wages

Total personal income in Maine ranks #42 (9th lowest).

Maine’s personal income per capita ranks #28.

Cost of Living

At 112% of the U.S. average, Maine’s cost of living ranks #38 (13th highest)

Maine ranks #29 for affordability.

Health Care Costs

AT $9,531, Maine ranks #9 highest for per capita health care spending.

Energy Costs

Maine ranks #34 for energy consumption per capita, but ranks #15 highest for energy expenditures per capita. Maine residents account for 0.4% of U.S. energy consumption, but 0.7% of U.S. energy expenditures.

Maine ranks #4 highest for average residential electricity prices.

Tax Burden

Maine ranks #4 highest in the nation for Overall Tax Burden

Maine ranks #29 for state tax competitiveness, largely due to the absence of local sales tax. Its ranks #40 for corporate tax and #48 for property tax.

Income Tax

At a top rate of 7.15%, Maine’s top marginal income tax ranks #10 highest

Property Tax

At 4.86% of personal income, Maine’s property tax burden ranks #1 highest

Corporate and Business Taxes

At a top rate of 8.93%, Maine’s corporate tax ranks #5 highest

Workforce

Top, at 23%, Maine ranks #1 for the percentage of its population over 65

At 17.8%, Maine ranks #2 lowest for the percentage of its population under 18

Maine’s workforce ranks #46 (#5th worst)

Federal Dependency

At 41% of its total state revenue, Maine ranks #18 for most reliant on federal funds

Averaging +$7,555 per capita, Maine ranks #11 among states receiving more in federal funding than it pays in federal taxes.