Lower the Cost of Living

Over the past five years, the cost of living in Maine has risen faster than almost anywhere else in New England. While wages have inched upward, the price of everyday necessities — housing, groceries, and energy — has climbed far faster, leaving too many Mainers feeling squeezed.

• Housing costs have surged by more than 50% since 2020, with the median home price jumping from roughly $235,000 to over $350,000. Nearly four out of five households can no longer afford a median-priced home.

• Grocery prices are up about 25% since 2020, hitting rural families especially hard where fewer stores and longer drives mean higher costs.

• Energy and household essentials have risen at an annual rate of around 7% in recent years, compared to about 6% nationally, stretching family budgets during Maine’s long winters.

  
  

This isn’t sustainable. The cost of living crisis is not just about numbers — it’s about whether working people and seniors can afford to build a life here. Families shouldn’t have to choose between heating their homes and saving for the future.

To lower costs, we take the following action:

• Tackle housing costs head-on by expanding incentives for workforce and starter housing, reforming outdated zoning laws, and increasing investments in home energy efficiency.

• Lower household energy costs by supporting community solar, weatherization programs, and ratepayer relief for those hit hardest by high utility bills.

• Cut everyday expenses through stronger competition in grocery and retail markets, support for local agriculture, and tax relief for working families.

• Protect wages by ensuring that pay keeps pace with inflation and by supporting small businesses that drive local job growth.

  
  

Maine families work hard, and they deserve an economy that works for them. With smart, practical policies, we can bring balance back to Maine’s cost of living — and make it possible for the next generation to live and thrive right here at home.