RANK #754 / 1001 NAT · POP 308,827
1YR FORECAST: -0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Cumberland County, Maine, is defined by its blend of coastal charm and natural landscapes, with Portland serving as its largest city and county seat. The iconic Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, commissioned by George Washington, stands as a notable landmark. Located on Maine's southwestern coast, the county is about a 30-minute drive from Portland to towns like Cumberland, and roughly two hours north of Boston. The community offers access to Casco Bay and Sebago Lake, the state's second-largest lake, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Numerous parks and preserves, such as Twin Brook Recreation Area and Broad Cove Reserve, offer trails for hiking, biking, and skiing.
Life in Cumberland County offers a mix of urban amenities and quieter residential areas. Commute times average around 23-27 minutes, with many residents driving alone, though public transit options like the Greater Portland Metro bus service are available in some areas. The county is home to several highly-rated public school districts, including Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, and Yarmouth. The economy is driven by sectors such as healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing, with companies like IDEXX Laboratories and Unum having a corporate presence. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure, such as a new playing field for the Portland Sea Dogs, and ongoing efforts in community development.
Cumberland County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.8% YoY, population +0.9%, wages +3.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 24/100, Cumberland County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $95,677 combined with job growth of +0.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Cumberland County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $451,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,589/month on average.
Cumberland County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.9%). Home values shifted +0.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
Not particularly — 1.95% of Cumberland County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.