Located on the coast of Maine, Portland is considered the commercial and cultural capital of the State (although of course scholars amongst you will will know that it's not the real capital).

Boasting a population of almost 490,000 in the greater metro area, Portland has the size to provide you with all the amenities you'd expect from a large city, but it's coastal setting and rugged surrounding landscape provide you with an easy escape to the outdoors, and a lifestyle you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

While Portland still boasts a working commercial waterfront, and thriving shipping industry, its primary economic base is in the banking and insurance sector, with many of the regions largest financial services companies making this city their home.

But that's just one sector of the local economy; think semiconductors, think veterinary medicines, think fleet management services and you're just getting started on some of the other industries that are thriving in Portland.

But of course, in such picturesque surroundings, tourism represents a significant part of the economy, and as such, seasonal employment opportunities abound.

Oh, and did we mention that the average commute for Portland workers is just 21 minutes?

For families, Portland boasts a fine selection of both public and private schools, that spend approx. $1,500 over the national average per child, with a teacher for every 11 students. Naturally, there's also plenty of higher education choices, such as the Maine College of Art, University of Maine School of Law, University of New England, and the University of Southern Maine.

Housing is plentiful, with prices very competitive with other Northeast cities, whether you're looking to rent or own. See our Accomodations section for up-to-date apartment listings, or complete the Contact Form if you would like to get in touch with one of the Realty Agents who belong to our club.

We could go on, but we think that Forbes.com got the picture when they declared Portland America's Most Livable City, thanks to it's low crime, low unemployment rate, great culture and five year growth in personal income rates of 6.3%.

So what are you waiting for? Move here now, before the rest of the country finds out about how great Portland is.