New Rochelle NY vs Portland ME — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

New Rochelle, NY

New York · Population: 48,198

  • Median HH Income$48,535
  • Median Home Price$920,484
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.8%

Portland, ME

Maine · Population: 68,505

  • Median HH Income$76,174
  • Median Home Price$561,069
  • Unemployment4.4%
  • Bachelor's+59.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
New Rochelle
48,198
Portland
68,505
Portland +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New Rochelle
N/A
Portland
N/A
Median Age
New Rochelle
40.7
Portland
37.5
Portland +
Foreign Born
New Rochelle
4.6%
Portland
11.1%
Portland +
White
New Rochelle
66.1%
Portland
80.1%
Portland +
Black
New Rochelle
17.8%
New Rochelle +
Portland
9.0%
Asian
New Rochelle
2.3%
Portland
3.2%
Portland +
Hispanic
New Rochelle
8.0%
New Rochelle +
Portland
3.1%
Spanish at Home
New Rochelle
N/A
Portland
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
New Rochelle
$48,535
Portland
$76,174
Portland +
Per Capita Income
New Rochelle
$30,033
Portland
$52,125
Portland +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New Rochelle
$77,425
New Rochelle +
Portland
$61,587
Unemployment Rate
New Rochelle
9.7%
Portland
4.4%
Portland +
Poverty Rate
New Rochelle
23.7%
Portland
11.3%
Portland +
Bachelor's Degree+
New Rochelle
22.8%
Portland
59.2%
Portland +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New Rochelle
$920,484
Portland
$561,069
Portland +
Homeownership Rate
New Rochelle
57.5%
New Rochelle +
Portland
46.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
434
Portland
106
Portland +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
1736
Portland
1234
Portland +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
26.6%
New Rochelle +
Portland
27.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
10.6%
Portland
8.3%
Portland +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New Rochelle
13.8%
New Rochelle +
Portland
17.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.5%
Portland
7.2%
Portland +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
14.9%
New Rochelle +
Portland
18.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.3%
New Rochelle +
Portland
11.1%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
Portland
46.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
Portland
47.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
8.1 µg/m³
Portland
5.9 µg/m³
Portland +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
New Rochelle
75.0%
Portland
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New Rochelle
20.0 min
New Rochelle +
Portland
21.4 min

Which City is Right for You?

Portland leads in median household income at $76,174, while portland offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $561,069. On public safety, Portland is safer with a violent crime rate of 106 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in New Rochelle. Portland has a lower unemployment rate at 4.4%, and Portland has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Rochelle scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About New Rochelle & Portland