Portage Lake, ME

This town of 361 residents needs 11 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
361 (2026)
Households
191
Median household income
$64,157 (2026)
Typical home value
$206,538
Owner-occupied
38%
Five-year housing need
11 units

Comparison to other Maine municipalities

Portage Lake: $64,157 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$37K >$146K
Portage Lake: None jobs to household ratio
<0.09 >1.67
Portage Lake: No permit data
<0.1% >11.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Portage Lake, ME, the typical home price of $206,538 is below the Maine average of $294,704. Portage Lake, ME's median household income of $64,157 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Portage Lake, ME has roughly 191 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Portage Lake, ME is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 88% of units. In Portage Lake, ME, renters make up the majority, with only 38% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How does this place compare to similar communities?