Home project costs in Portland, ME
Every project we cover, priced for the Portland-South Portland metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Portland sits 51st of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 101.9 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 97.2 (83rd). The metro has about 288,480 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 19 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 13 below, and 6 are level with it. Kitchen backsplash (+9%), tile flooring (+8%) and shower pan (+7%) sit highest, and retaining wall (−8%), roof replacement (−5%) and inground pool (−4%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Portland Intl Jetport, 6 miles away) shows a January average low of 16°F, a July average high of 80°F and 48 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are May through October; for exterior installation, they are April through November.
What local trades earn in Portland
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $21.50 | $23.31 | $27.46 | $22.66 | 1.03 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $28.45 | $30.91 | $35.95 | $29.12 | 1.06 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $25.00 | $28.62 | $30.84 | $28.78 | 0.99 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $30.51 | $31.01 | $36.97 | $30.67 | 1.01 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $24.70 | $30.01 | $31.25 | $27.41 | 1.09 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $30.72 | $34.45 | $38.12 | $30.38 | 1.13 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $22.84 | $24.61 | $29.30 | $26.65 | 0.92 |
Concrete & paving in Portland
The 7 jobs here average +1% versus the US in Portland, from −3% (paver patio) to +3% (concrete driveway).
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Portland | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Portland | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,550 | +3% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Portland | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,500 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Portland | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Paver patio cost in Portland | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,250 | −3% |
| Concrete patio cost in Portland | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Portland | 400 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,100 | +2% |
Decks & outdoor in Portland
The 2 jobs here average +2% versus the US in Portland, from +1% (wood deck) to +2% (composite deck).
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Portland | 300 sq ft | $7,600 – $15,300 | +1% |
| Composite deck cost in Portland | 300 sq ft | $12,300 – $24,700 | +2% |
Building & additions in Portland
Across these 2 projects, Portland averages +2% against national midpoints. Home addition is highest at +2% and detached garage lowest at +1%.
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Portland | 576 sq ft | $29,300 – $58,800 | +1% |
| Home addition cost in Portland | 300 sq ft | $38,900 – $78,800 | +2% |
Doors & windows in Portland
The 5 jobs here average −1% versus the US in Portland, from −3% (window replacement) to +1% (storm door).
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Portland | 1 door | $710 – $3,700 | level |
| Storm door cost in Portland | 1 door | $360 – $950 | +1% |
| Front door cost in Portland | 1 door | $510 – $2,450 | level |
| Window replacement cost in Portland | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Patio door cost in Portland | 1 door | $590 – $5,900 | −2% |
Fencing in Portland
The 4 jobs here average level versus the US in Portland, from −1% (vinyl fence) to +2% (chain-link fence).
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Portland | 150 linear ft | $3,050 – $7,650 | level |
| Vinyl fence cost in Portland | 150 linear ft | $4,450 – $9,050 | −1% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Portland | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,250 | +2% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Portland | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
Roofing & exterior in Portland
The 5 jobs here average −2% versus the US in Portland, from −5% (roof replacement) to +1% (vinyl siding).
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Portland | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,800 – $11,900 | −5% |
| Metal roof cost in Portland | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,800 – $31,500 | −3% |
| Gutters cost in Portland | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | −1% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Portland | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,500 – $25,500 | +1% |
| Attic insulation cost in Portland | 1,000 sq ft | $980 – $3,900 | −2% |
Kitchen & bath in Portland
Across these 5 projects, Portland averages +5% against national midpoints. Kitchen backsplash is highest at +9% and kitchen remodel lowest at level.
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Portland | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,400 | +2% |
| Shower pan cost in Portland | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Portland | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Portland | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +5% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Portland | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +9% |
Landscaping & drainage in Portland
Across these 5 projects, Portland averages −1% against national midpoints. Sod installation is highest at +6% and retaining wall lowest at −8%.
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Portland | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Retaining wall cost in Portland | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,350 – $12,500 | −8% |
| Sod installation cost in Portland | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +6% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Portland | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $9,950 | −1% |
| Inground pool cost in Portland | 450 sq ft | $34,600 – $108,500 | −4% |
Flooring & interior in Portland
The 3 jobs here average +2% versus the US in Portland, from −1% (laminate flooring) to +8% (tile flooring).
| Project | Size | Portland range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Portland | 500 sq ft | $5,500 – $12,400 | level |
| Laminate flooring cost in Portland | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $6,900 | −1% |
| Tile flooring cost in Portland | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,500 | +8% |
Portland against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Portland comes out +1% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 5 price higher and 1 lower. Manchester is the lowest at roughly level (85 miles) and Boston the highest at +15% (85 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | 101.9 | 97.2 | +1% | |
| Manchester, NH | 85 miles | 105.7 | 97.7 | level |
| Boston, MA | 85 miles | 108.3 | 99.7 | +15% |
| Worcester, MA | 120 miles | 102.5 | 97.0 | +11% |
| Barnstable, MA | 135 miles | 98.4 | 97.0 | +10% |
| Providence, RI | 140 miles | 101.8 | 97.1 | +4% |
| Amherst, MA | 145 miles | 100.2 | 97.0 | +9% |