Health Profile of Portland, Maine
Portland Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A
Portland Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.5 | 78.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 5.0% | 6.2% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 10.6% | 13.9% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Portland is 78.5 years, about 0.2 years longer than the Maine average of 78.2 years. The uninsured rate is 5.0%, lower than the Maine average of 6.2%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 10.6% of residents, lower than the Maine average of 13.9%.
Population by Age
Older residents
22,491 residents in Portland are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,806 460 men · 1,346 women
- 75–84 3,122 1,205 men · 1,917 women
- 65–74 5,486 2,549 men · 2,937 women
- 50–64 12,077 5,818 men · 6,260 women
Younger residents
10,274 residents in Portland are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 2,958 1,470 boys · 1,488 girls
- 7–12 3,006 1,400 boys · 1,606 girls
- 3–7 2,452 1,229 boys · 1,223 girls
- 0–3 1,858 985 boys · 873 girls
About 3,636 residents in Portland (5.3% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 78.5 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 7.6% | 10.0% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.7% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.1% | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 27.1% | 32.2% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Portland is about 33% lower than in Maine. The rate of diabetes in Portland is about 24% lower than in Maine. The rate of cancer in Portland is about 24% lower than in Maine.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 13.6% | 18.8% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 16.7% | 15.0% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 18.7% | 22.8% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Portland is about 28% lower than in Maine. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Portland is about 18% lower than in Maine.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 78,803 cigarettes a day, 2.4 million a month, or 28.8 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 866,835 minutes a day and 316.4 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Portland is 78.5 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 7.67 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.14 | 4.43 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.1 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Portland is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Portland, ME Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Portland, ME compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 68,646 | 78.5 yrs #2/2 | 5.0% #1/2 | 27.1% #2/2 |
| South Portland, ME | 26,562 | 78.7 yrs | 6.3% | 25.8% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Portland, Maine has an overall health index grade of A, making it somewhat better than Maine, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Portland, Maine.
What is the health grade for Portland, Maine?
Portland, Maine has a Map AI Health Index grade of A, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A grade means residents are much healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in Portland, Maine?
People in Portland, Maine can expect to live 78.5 years on average, about the same as the Maine average of 78.2.
How many people lack health insurance in Portland, Maine?
5.0% of residents in Portland, Maine have no health insurance, about 1 in 20 people, 1.2 points below the Maine rate of 6.2%.
What is the obesity rate in Portland, Maine?
27.1% of adults in Portland, Maine are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 5.2 points below the Maine rate of 32.2%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Portland, Maine go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 78,803 cigarettes a day, 2.4 million a month, or 28.8 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 866,835 minutes a day and 316.4 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Portland is 78.5 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 7.67 lifetimes a year.
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