Part of the Moving to Maine guide
From locals, not a chamber of commerce. Updated July 2026.
Short Answer
Scarborough is one of the most popular suburban places to live in Maine, and for good reason. It offers beaches (Scarborough Beach, Higgins Beach, Pine Point), highly regarded schools, newer neighborhoods, lots of amenities, and an easy ~15-minute commute to Portland, all in a fast-growing but still-green town wrapped around Maine's largest salt marsh. It's the classic pick for families and professionals who want space, schools, and the coast with Portland jobs close by. The tradeoff is cost: as prime Greater Portland real estate, it's among Maine's pricier markets, and it feels more suburban than quaint. See the Greater Portland region guide and the full Moving to Maine guide.
Scarborough is the Maine suburb people move to for the schools and the beach and stay for the 15-minute drive to Portland, space and sand without leaving the metro.
For example
A common story: a family relocating for a Portland job chooses Scarborough for the schools and beaches, buying a newer home in or near The Downs with a 15-minute commute. Or a remote-working couple picks Scarborough for Higgins Beach and Portland access, trading village quaintness for suburban convenience and sand.
Scarborough suits people who want suburban comfort with coast and city access. It's one of Maine's fastest-growing towns (population around 22,000 and climbing), spread across neighborhoods, beaches, and the marsh just south of Portland. It's a strong fit for families drawn by the schools and space, professionals who commute to Portland, remote workers who want amenities and beaches nearby, and anyone who prefers modern suburban living to a historic village. It's a weaker fit for people seeking bargain prices, lots of rural land, or a walkable small-town downtown.
Scarborough is prime Greater Portland real estate, which means prices are among Maine's highest, generally well above inland markets, reflecting the schools, beaches, and Portland proximity. Housing skews toward single-family homes and newer developments, including the large Scarborough Downs redevelopment ("The Downs"), which is adding homes, apartments, and retail. Inventory is competitive. Budget accordingly and check the current mill rate for property taxes. For families prioritizing schools and location, many consider the premium worthwhile.
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Start your move plan →Scarborough's practical advantage is access to the entire Greater Portland job market with a short commute, downtown Portland is roughly 15 minutes away, and the Maine Mall area and numerous employers sit right between them. The town itself hosts significant employers, including major healthcare and corporate offices, and the Portland Jetport is close for travel. Between local jobs and the easy Portland commute, Scarborough offers one of the deepest employment pictures in the state, an important contrast with more remote (and cheaper) Maine towns.
Two things draw most people: schools and beaches. Scarborough's public schools are among the most sought-after in the region, a primary reason families move here. And the town has a genuinely enviable coastline, Scarborough Beach, Higgins Beach (a surf spot), and Pine Point, plus the 3,100-acre Scarborough Marsh for kayaking and birding. Add ample shopping, restaurants, sports and rec programs, and quick access to Portland's culture, and you get a full, active suburban lifestyle with the ocean built in.
Scarborough is suburban and growing, which cuts both ways: you get amenities and modern homes, but not a quaint walkable downtown, and rapid development and summer beach traffic are real. Prices are high, this is one of Maine's pricier markets. And if your image of Maine is a historic harbor village or rural quiet, Scarborough will feel more like a well-appointed suburb. For families and commuters chasing schools, beaches, and Portland access, though, that's exactly the appeal.
Yes, if
You want suburban family living with strong schools, beaches, and a short Portland commute, and you can handle prime Greater Portland prices. Modern neighborhoods and amenities appeal to you more than a historic village feel.
No, if
You want the lowest possible housing costs, rural land and quiet, or a quaint walkable downtown. Inland Maine is far cheaper, and other coastal towns offer more village character.
The city itself, 15 minutes north, if you want urban over suburban
Far more affordable small-city living up north
Budget-friendly, revitalizing inland town
Trade suburban convenience for dramatic Downeast coast
Scarborough's public schools are among the most sought-after in the Greater Portland region and are a primary reason families move to town. Strong schools are a big part of what keeps demand, and prices, elevated.
Yes, it's prime Greater Portland real estate, with prices among the highest in Maine, well above inland markets. The schools, beaches, and Portland proximity drive demand, and inventory is competitive. The Scarborough Downs redevelopment is adding new housing supply.
About 15 minutes to downtown Portland, with the Maine Mall area and many employers in between. That short commute plus the town's own employers gives Scarborough one of the deepest job pictures in Maine.
Yes, and they're a major draw: Scarborough Beach, Higgins Beach (a popular surf spot), and Pine Point, plus the 3,100-acre Scarborough Marsh for kayaking and birding. Few Maine suburbs offer this much coastline.
It's one of Maine's most popular towns for families, thanks to the schools, beaches, space, amenities, and easy Portland access. The main tradeoffs are high housing costs and a suburban rather than quaint-village character.
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