Question 1

Is South Portland, ME or Waterville, ME cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

Waterville, ME is cheaper. The median home price in South Portland, ME is approximately $357,900 and in Waterville, ME it is approximately $168,000 — a difference of $189,900.

Question 2

Is South Portland, ME or Waterville, ME more walkable?

Accepted Answer

South Portland, ME is more walkable. South Portland, ME has a Walk Score of 18/100 and Waterville, ME has a Walk Score of 13/100.

Question 3

Which has better schools, South Portland, ME or Waterville, ME?

Accepted Answer

Waterville, ME has higher-rated schools. South Portland, ME has a school rating of 5.6/10 and Waterville, ME has a rating of 6/10.

Question 4

Should I live in South Portland, ME or Waterville, ME?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	South Portland, ME	Waterville, ME
Housing
Verdict	Good for now	Good for now
Median Price	$358K	$168K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$2K	$881 ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$82K ✓ Higher income	$51K
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	18/100 ✓ More walkable	13/100
Transit Score	2/100 ✓ Better transit	1/100
Bike Score	2/100 ✓ More bikeable	1/100
Commute	30 min	30 min ✓ Shorter commute
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+	D+
Violent Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Property Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Good	Good
Community
Schools	5.6/10	6/10 ✓ Better schools
Best for	Families with kidsCommuters to Portland downtownRetirees looking for a coastal lifestyle	family-friendlyaffordablesmall-town lifestyle

South Portland, ME vs Waterville, ME

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