I came across an interesting article from roadsnacks.net, called the ten worst places to live in Maine. It caught my eye and before I give you the list, here's how they came up with their list. The criteria used was: population density, highest unemployment rates, adjusted median income, high housing vacancy rates, education and high crime. Here are the ten worst from ten to one.

10. Sanford
9. Lewiston
8. Old Town
7. Waterville
6. Waterboro
5. Presque Isle
4. Caribou
3. Paris
2. Augusta
1. Skowhegan

Skowhegan was number one as the worst place to live in Maine. Here's what they had to say.

1. Skowhegan

Population: 10,757

It was a close call, but Skowhegan ranks as the worst place you can live in Maine, barely beating out Augusta. Let’s see why.

The unemployment rate in Skowhegan is the highest in the state of Maine, and at 9.3%, far higher than the national average. Additionally, the residents here are having a hard time making ends meet; the average household income is merely $27,000. That’s a tick over the poverty line for a family of four. And the homes are also very poorly priced, averaging only $105,000.

Say what you want about low cost of living. The fact is homes in Maine are based on demand, and the fact of the matter is, there’s no demand to live here. Looking at these facts, you can see why.

Unlike Augusta, Skowhegan doesn’t have a lot do to, entertainment wise. It’s way up on Route 201, about 45 minutes north of Augusta. That alone set these two cities apart.

2. Augusta

Population: 19,088

This may or may not be a surprise to you, but Augusta is the most dangerous city in Maine. For such a small city, there are an astounding number of property crimes. Residents here have a 1 in 15 chance of being the victim of some sort of robbery when within city limits every year. That’s lots of stolen cell phones, guns, snowmobiles and lobster cages.

Besides the crime, there are a few other factors why Augusta might be one of the worst places to live. The home values here are pretty cheap. Why is that not a good thing? Because the salaries of people working in Augusta are really low. People here earn about $35,000 a year per household.

Additionally, the public schools in Augusta are some of the lowest funded in the state.

When all is said and done, you could find much more desirable places to live in Maine than in Augusta.

7. Waterville

Population: 7,661

You might be surprised to hear that Waterville has the 7th highest crime rate in Maine. People who live here have a 1 in 20 chance of being robbed. That means if you live here, and you didn’t have something stolen from you, someone on your block probably did.

The schools in Waterville are very poorly funded, and the homes here are very cheap, which is a sign of demand. There are no ‘bargains’ here. Unless you want to buy a cheap house and turn it into a moose lodge

Just don’t leave the door unlocked.

What do you think of this list?

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