Living in Portland, Maine A guide to help international students moving to the Portland area The University of Southern Maine Office of International Programs has created this guide to give student’s insight into living and attending school in Portland, Maine. Table of Contents Portland at a Glance ............................................................................................................................. 2 Information & Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 2 Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................................. 3 Housing ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 On Campus ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Off Campus .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Portland Neighborhoods .................................................................................................................... 6 Back Cove ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Bayside ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Deering Center ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Downtown ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 East Bayside ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 East Deering ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Libbytown ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 Munjoy Hill .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Nason’s Corner ................................................................................................................................................ 10 North Deering .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Parkside ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Peaks Island ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 Riverton ............................................................................................................................................................. 11 Rosemont .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 St. John Valley .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Stroudwater ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 West End ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 Woodfords-Oakdale ...................................................................................................................................... 13 Surrounding Areas .............................................................................................................................. 14 Transportation ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Gorham/Portland Shuttle ........................................................................................................................... 15 METRO Bus ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 Amtrak ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 Regional Buses ................................................................................................................................................ 17 Concord Coach Lines ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Greyhound ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Taxis ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Uber .................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 1 Portland at a Glance Portland is a larger medium-sized coastal city located in the state of Maine. With a population of 66,666 people and 21 constituent neighborhoods, Portland is the largest community in Maine. Portland has a large stock of pre-World War II architecture, making it one of the older and more historic cities in the country. Portland real estate is some of the most expensive in Maine, although Portland house values don't compare to the most expensive real estate in the U.S. Portland is a decidedly white-collar city, with fully 87.35% of the workforce employed in white-collar jobs, well above the national average. Overall, Portland is a city of professionals, sales and office workers and service providers. There are especially a lot of people living in Portland who work in office and administrative support (11.56%), management occupations (10.70%) and sales jobs (10.25%). One thing that you will notice about Portland is that there is a good-sized population of people who are young, single, educated, and upwardly-mobile career starters. Many singles consider Portland a good place to live without being in a really big city, with opportunities for friendships and fun with others like themselves. One of the nice things about Portland is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities. Information & Demographics Portland is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 44.83% of adults in Portland have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher. The per capita income in Portland in 2010 was $28,913, which is upper middle income relative to Maine and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $115,652 for a family of four. However, Portland contains both very wealthy and poor people as well. Portland is a somewhat ethnically-diverse city. The people who call Portland home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Portland residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African- American. Important ancestries of people in Portland include Irish, English, Italian, French, German and French Canadian. The most common language spoken in Portland is English. Other important languages spoken here include African languages and Spanish.1 1 http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/me/portland 2 Frequently Asked Questions What is the average apartment like in Portland? There is a good mix of old charming buildings, and brand new buildings in Portland. Depending on your budget, and where in the city you would like to live you could have a small studio downtown, or a spacious multi-room unit. Units could be in a house by themselves, or in a large apartment building. How much will rent cost? The average cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Portland is around $1,000 a month, and a two bedroom will cost about $1,200. Will utilities be included? It depends on the unit. If the utilities are included be aware that the heat may be kept lower than you would like in the winter—invest in lots of layers! If utilities are not included it is important to be aware that Maine winter weather can fluctuate drastically. During a mild winter when the price of heating oil is low, your bills could be very cheap. During a harsh winter with lots of cold snowy weather, and