Maine Is Now One of the Fastest-Growing States in America

It turns out a lot of people really do want to live in Maine.

According to the Bangor Daily News, a recent report from SEO Backlinks ranked Maine as the seventh fastest-growing state in the country when it comes to domestic population growth.

The report found that Maine gained more than 7,400 residents than it lost between July 2024 and July 2025. That was enough to put the Pine Tree State near the top of the list, with Maine gaining roughly five new residents for every 1,000 people.

That is a pretty notable jump for a state that has long been known for its older population, smaller communities, and slower overall growth compared to other parts of the country.

And the number may not even tell the whole story. The report only looked at people moving from within the United States and did not include international migration. That means Maine’s actual population increase could be even higher when all new residents are counted, WGME ezplained.

The growth helped push Maine to a record population of 1.4 million residents in 2025.

The news station reported that for years, Maine has been a place people talked about visiting. Now, more people appear to be making the decision to stay. Whether it is the slower pace, access to the outdoors, small-town feel, or simply people looking for a change, Maine continues to attract new residents from other parts of the country.

Of course, that growth also comes with real questions. More people moving to Maine can mean more pressure on housing, roads, schools, health care, and local services, especially in communities that are already dealing with affordability issues.

Maine was not the only New England state to make the top 10. New Hampshire also ranked among the fastest-growing states, coming in ninth. South Carolina took the top spot in the country.

So while Mainers may joke about people “from away,” the numbers show more and more folks are choosing Maine as home.

And with Maine now sitting at a record population, it looks like the Pine Tree State’s popularity is not slowing down anytime soon.