Quality of Life
Maine’s exceptional quality of life not only makes Maine a great place to live but it also has a positive effect on business. Maine employers testify over and over to the uniquely strong work ethic, high productivity, and low absenteeism and turnover rates of their Maine employees.Portland was named as America's Most Livable City by Forbes.com 2009. Besides excellent schools, Maine has natural beauty, endless recreational and cultural opportunities, minimal traffic, clean air and water, friendly people and a low crime rate.
Maine has the lowest average home price in New England and among the lowest nationwide [comparing average home costs for a standard 2,200 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2-car garage home with family room (or equivalent)]. Maine ranks 10th in the nation in homeownership rate.
Maine is proud of its progressive system of elementary, secondary and higher education. Maine schools are among the best in the country, with a record of high standards and success. Maine’s education system is ranked among the top ten in the country. Maine’s 4th and 8th graders rank at the top of the nation in science, reading, writing and mathematics on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Maine has one of the highest public high school graduation rates in the country.
Maine is the first and only state in the country to provide laptop computers to every middle school student in the state.
People in Maine live in one of the safest, most crime-free states in the nation. According to 2010 Morgan Quitno State Rankings: Maine has the lowest violent crime rate in the nation and its overall crime rate is the 6th lowest in the nation. The Portland and Bangor metropolitan areas are among the top 25 safest metropolitan areas in the country.
The annual United States Peace Index finds the country overall more peaceful than at anytime in the past 20 years, with Maine finishing first as the "most peaceful" state and Louisiana placing last for the 11th year in a row. READ: The 2012 U.S. Peace Index