Largest Cities in Maine: Ranked by Population
The largest city in Maine in our data is Portland, ME, with an estimated 203,969 people, followed by Bangor, ME (59,772) and Lewiston, ME (58,802). This list ranks the top 21 places among the 21 Maine communities with at least 5,000 residents.
What are the top 21 in Maine?
| # | City | County | Population | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | Cumberland County | 203,969 | 3,069 |
| 2 | Bangor, ME | Penobscot County | 59,772 | 940 |
| 3 | Lewiston, ME | Androscoggin County | 58,802 | 1,059 |
| 4 | Sanford, ME | York County | 29,535 | 443 |
| 5 | Waterville, ME | Kennebec County | 27,054 | 1,222 |
| 6 | South Portland, ME | Cumberland County | 25,532 | 2,113 |
| 7 | Auburn, ME | Androscoggin County | 23,414 | 394 |
| 8 | Augusta, ME | Kennebec County | 22,116 | 337 |
| 9 | Biddeford, ME | York County | 21,504 | 712 |
| 10 | Saco, ME | York County | 19,964 | 518 |
| 11 | Westbrook, ME | Cumberland County | 19,074 | 1,109 |
| 12 | Brewer, ME | Penobscot County | 9,035 | 591 |
| 13 | Presque Isle, ME | Aroostook County | 9,007 | 117 |
| 14 | Rockland, ME | Knox County | 8,616 | 557 |
| 15 | Bath, ME | Sagadahoc County | 8,338 | 914 |
| 16 | Ellsworth, ME | Hancock County | 8,180 | 101 |
| 17 | Caribou, ME | Aroostook County | 7,593 | 93 |
| 18 | Old Town, ME | Penobscot County | 7,431 | 189 |
| 19 | Belfast, ME | Waldo County | 6,679 | 194 |
| 20 | North Windham, ME | Cumberland County | 6,131 | 938 |
| 21 | Gardiner, ME | Kennebec County | 5,653 | 360 |
How big are the largest cities in Maine?
Of the 21 places with pages, 1 has more than 100,000 residents, 5 have between 25,000 and 100,000, and 15 have fewer than 25,000. The median place has about 19,074 people. The ten largest places account for about 84% of the combined population of all pages, which shows how concentrated the state's population is across communities. Cumberland County contributes 4 of the top 21.
Which counties do the top 21 belong to?
The 21 places on this list are spread across 10 counties of Maine. Cumberland County has 4 (Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, North Windham); Penobscot County has 3 (Bangor, Brewer, Old Town); York County has 3 (Sanford, Biddeford, Saco). Counties with several entries are usually centers of a metropolitan area, where one large city is surrounded by many suburbs that each pass the 5,000-resident threshold.
How does Maine compare with the rest of the country?
The median Maine place with a page has about 19,074 residents, compared with about 13,459 nationwide, so the state's typical community is larger than the national typical place. Portland, ME ranks 220th among all US places by estimated population in our data. The state has 41 communities in total, of which 21 reach 5,000 residents. See the national ranking of the largest cities for comparison.
Quick answers about Maine cities
- Which is the largest city in Maine? Portland (203,969 people).
- How many Maine cities have more than 100,000 people? 1 in our data.
- How many have 25,000 to 100,000? 5.
- What is the typical size? About 19,074 residents for a place with a page.
How is this ranking made?
The data comes from the SimpleMaps US Cities Database, which gives each place an estimated population and a density in people per square kilometer. We convert density to people per square mile and rank the places with at least 5,000 residents. Boundaries matter: a city that includes large parks or farmland scores lower on density than a compact city of the same size, and population estimates can include areas that share a city's ZIP codes. Read why population figures differ and how density is calculated before you quote a number.
Where to go next
Rankings use dataset estimates, not official counts.