10 Ways Living in Maine Is Different Than Living in Vermont

Which is the better state to live in? Maine or Vermont?  Having been born and raised in Maine, I can't imagine living anywhere else. Maine has miles of coastline. Vermont has none.

So, which state is the better state? Here are 10 ways that living in Maine is different than living in Vermont.

1. Maine Has a Coastline - Vermont Doesn't

There's a lot to be said for having access to the coast. Vermont has none while Maine has 3,478 miles of coastline. It's one of the biggest reasons people choose to live here.

2. Maine Has the Most Mountains

There are 2029 mountains in Maine. Vermont has 1316 named mountains, of which the majority are in the Green Mountains.

3. Vermont Has More Ski Resorts

Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Saddleback, Lost Valley. Those are just a handful of the 19 ski resorts available in Maine. Vermont has Maine beat with 25 resorts, including the 62 miles of slopes at Killington, Vermont's largest ski resort.

4. Maine Has a Much Larger Outdoor Concert Venue

Vermont's largest concert venue, Essex Junction at the Champlain Valley Fair, has a seating capacity of 10,000. The Maine Savings Bank Pavilion in Bangor, with a capacity of 16,000, hosts big acts like Avril Lavigne, Halsey, Def Leppard, Shania Twain, Jerry Seinfeld, and Billy Idol.

5. Cost of Living

According to sofi.com, living in Maine will run you an average of $50,559 a year. In Vermont, that number is minimally higher at $50,761. Vermont's cost of living is only $202 higher a year, so that's a draw.

6. Maine Lobster

Ever heard of Vemront lobster? Me either. There is lobster at restaurants in Vermont, but if you love seafood, you won't find any better than in Maine, where it is as fresh as it gets.

READ MORE: Why is This Sign For Lobster at a Farm Stand in Oxford, Maine Spelled Wrong?

7. Schools

Wallet Hub lists Vermont as the second most educated state in the country, while Maine ranks nineteenth. We've got work to do, Maine.

8. Housing

The median home price in Maine is around $403,919, while the price of a home in Vermont is about $50,000 cheaper at $355,083.

9. Unemployment

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of this writing, Maine has a higher unemployment rate than Vermont. Vermont's unemployment rate is at 2.6%, and Maine's is at 3.5%. That said, it's significantly less than it was in April 2020 when the national unemployment rate was at 14.7%.

10. Maine is Safer Than Vermont

According to U.S. News and World Report, Maine is ranked second in the nation for Public Safety, fourth for Low Property Crime, and first for low violent crime. Vermont ranks a bit lower at 8th for Low Violent Crime, 13th for public safety and third for crime and corrections.