New Study Says Nearly Half of Mainers Are Struggling to Get By

A new national study suggests that nearly half of Mainers are struggling to afford basic necessities.

According to WGME, the report from the Brookings Institution found that only 54 percent of Maine residents are currently able to meet their basic needs. That is close to the national average of 55 percent.

The report looked at the rising cost of essentials, including food, housing, health care, gas, and other household expenses. It also found that affordability in Maine has been declining for years, with an 11 percent drop in the number of Mainers making ends meet compared to 2022.

According to WGME 13, Garrett Martin with the Maine Center for Economic Policy told them that the findings were not surprising. He said many households in Maine and across the country are barely getting by, and described the issue as a structural problem rather than one caused by individual choices.

Martin said added expenses, including higher gas prices and tariffs, are putting even more pressure on household budgets. He estimated some Maine families could be absorbing about $2,000 more per year in added costs.

The report also found that Mainers of color are facing even greater challenges. According to the data, 40 percent of Hispanic and Latino Mainers are meeting basic needs, while that number drops to 34 percent for Black Mainers, WGME explained.

Some residents say they are already changing daily habits, including driving less, eating out less often, and paying closer attention to grocery prices.

The report found Cumberland, York, Oxford, and Franklin Counties are among the areas where people are struggling the most. Kennebec County had the highest share of residents meeting their basic needs.