Health Profile of South Portland, Maine
South 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
South Portland Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | South Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.7 | 78.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 6.3% | 6.2% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 9.4% | 13.9% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in South Portland is 78.7 years, about 0.5 years longer than the Maine average of 78.2 years. The uninsured rate is 6.3%, higher than the Maine average of 6.2%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 9.4% of residents, lower than the Maine average of 13.9%.
Population by Age
Older residents
9,736 residents in South Portland are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 512 176 men · 336 women
- 75–84 1,457 558 men · 899 women
- 65–74 2,731 1,252 men · 1,480 women
- 50–64 5,036 2,339 men · 2,697 women
Younger residents
4,417 residents in South Portland are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 1,460 811 boys · 649 girls
- 7–12 1,258 670 boys · 587 girls
- 3–7 971 472 boys · 499 girls
- 0–3 728 307 boys · 421 girls
About 1,285 residents in South Portland (4.8% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 78.7 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | South Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 7.5% | 10.0% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.5% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.2% | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 25.8% | 32.2% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in South Portland is about 32% lower than in Maine. The rate of diabetes in South Portland is about 25% lower than in Maine. The rate of obesity in South Portland is about 20% lower than in Maine.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | South Portland | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 12.4% | 18.8% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 16.3% | 15.0% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 17.6% | 22.8% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in South Portland is about 34% lower than in Maine. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in South Portland is about 23% lower than in Maine.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 28,133 cigarettes a day, 843,979 a month, or 10.3 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 309,459 minutes a day and 113.0 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in South Portland is 78.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 2.73 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 | South 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 South Portland is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
South Portland, ME Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How South Portland, ME compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland, ME | 26,562 | 78.7 yrs #2/3 | 6.3% #3/3 | 25.8% #1/3 |
| Westbrook, ME | 20,775 | 78.9 yrs | 4.0% | 28.3% |
| Portland, ME | 68,646 | 78.5 yrs | 5.0% | 27.1% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, South 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 South Portland, Maine.
What is the health grade for South Portland, Maine?
South 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 life expectancy in South Portland, Maine?
People in South Portland, Maine can expect to live 78.7 years on average, 0.5 years longer than the Maine average of 78.2.
How many people lack health insurance in South Portland, Maine?
6.3% of residents in South Portland, Maine have no health insurance, about 1 in 16 people, about the same as the Maine rate of 6.2%.
How common is obesity in South Portland, Maine?
25.8% of adults in South Portland, Maine are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 6.4 points below the Maine rate of 32.2%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in South Portland, Maine go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 28,133 cigarettes a day, 843,979 a month, or 10.3 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 309,459 minutes a day and 113.0 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in South Portland is 78.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 2.73 lifetimes a year.
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