Carrboro, NC vs Portland, ME
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Carrboro
70.3
#1110 nationally
Portland
72.9
#814 nationally
Portland leads in walk score (65 vs 29). Portland leads in average commute (21.2 min vs 23.5 min). Carrboro leads in median household income ($76,933 vs $71,853).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Carrboro, NC | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.3 (#1110) | 72.9 (#814) |
| Population | 21,103 | 68,408 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $429,889 | $566,902 |
| Median Household Income | $76,933 | $71,853 |
| Average Commute | 23.5 min | 21.2 min |
| Walk Score | 29 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 4.9 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 126 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+36.3 |
C-
70.3 Score
Carrboro, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$429,889
Population
21,103
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Southeast
View Carrboro, NC →
C-
72.9 Score
Portland, ME
Foodie paradise on the coast
Median Home
$566,902
Population
68,408
Crime
Low
Schools
B+
Northeast
View Portland, ME →