Housing
This section of the BDN aims to help readers understand Maine’s housing crisis, the volatile real estate market and the public policy behind them. Read more Housing coverage here.
Hundreds of people learned they should live in Portland, Belfast or Patten, according to a quiz the Bangor Daily News created and published last week.
Nearly 1,400 people took the 12-question non-scientific “Where in Maine should you live?” quiz that was made with AI and designed to tell participants what Maine community best fits their needs and preferences. The questions range from asking what someone likes to do on the weekends to how big of a community they want to live in.
Out of the nearly 250 possible answers, a handful of regions and communities across the state became clear favorites, and many participants showed a preference to live along the coast.
Portland was the most popular answer, as 228 test takers learned they should live in Maine’s largest city. That’s followed closely by Belfast, which 203 participants received as their top result.
There are more than 200 properties for sale across both Portland and Belfast, but home prices between the two coastal communities vary widely. An average home in Belfast will cost more than $380,000 while an average Portland-based property is valued around $558,000, according to Zillow.
Other popular quiz answers include Camden and Vinalhaven, both in Knox County, which earned the top result for 79 and 60 people, respectively.
The neighboring communities of Deer Isle, Blue Hill and Bar Harbor in Hancock County were the top answers for more than 110 participants, collectively. Further up the coast, another 64 people learned they should live in Eastport.
While many coastal communities appeared to be favorites, some inland areas still proved to be top choices. Patten in Penobscot County, for example, was the first result for 84 people.
More than 66 learned they should live in Oxford County, with Bethel, Denmark and Stoneham being among the most popular answers.
Fewer than 50 people received Bangor as the best match for their needs and preferences despite being Maine’s third largest city by population.
Eight participants were told they belong in Aroostook County — Fort Fairfield, specifically — and communities in Franklin County were the top choice for 52 participants.
Meanwhile, Lincoln, Piscataquis and Sagadahoc counties were the first choices for one test taker each.
