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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Scarborough, ME Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q4 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Scarborough, ME Housing Market Trends

With a population of 23,218, 9,168 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $736,304, Scarborough house prices are not only among the most expensive in Maine, Scarborough real estate also is some of the most expensive in all of America.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Scarborough, accounting for 71.21% of the town's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Scarborough include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 11.92%), row houses and other attached homes ( 7.63%), and a few duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 6.80%).

Owner-occupied, three and four bedroom dwellings, primarily in single-family detached homes are the most prevalent type of housing you will see in Scarborough. Owner-occupied housing accounts for 76.88% of Scarborough's homes, and 60.96% have either three or four bedrooms, which is average sized relative to America.

There is a lot of housing in Scarborough built from 1970 to 1999 so parts of town may have that "Brady Bunch" look of homes popular in the '70s and early '80s, although some of these houses were built up through the early '90s as well. There is also a lot of housing in Scarborough built between 2000 and later ( 29.25%). A lesser amount of the housing stock also hails from between 1940-1969 ( 13.21%). There's also some housing in Scarborough built before 1939 ( 8.88%).

Vacant housing appears to be an issue in Scarborough. Fully 11.44% of the housing stock is classified as vacant. Left unchecked, vacant Scarborough homes and apartments can be a drag on the real estate market, holding Scarborough real estate prices below levels they could achieve if vacant housing was absorbed into the market and became occupied. Housing vacancy rates are a useful measure to consider, along with other things, if you are a home buyer or a real estate investor.

Scarborough Home Appreciation Rates

In the last 10 years, Scarborough has experienced some of the highest home appreciation rates of any community in the nation. Scarborough real estate appreciated 110.14% over the last ten years, which is an average annual home appreciation rate of 7.71%, putting Scarborough in the top 20% nationally for real estate appreciation. If you are a home buyer or real estate investor, Scarborough definitely has a track record of being one of the best long term real estate investments in America through the last ten years.

Appreciation rates are so strong in Scarborough that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Scarborough real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Scarborough appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 11.61%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 98.62% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in Scarborough. Scarborough appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 3.59%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 15.16%.

Importantly, this makes Scarborough one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation for the latest quarter, and may signal the town's near-future real estate investment strength.

Relative to Maine, our data show that Scarborough's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 70% of the other cities and towns in Maine.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the town. Individual neighborhoods within Scarborough differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Scarborough - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Scarborough real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$736,304

Scarborough, ME Home Prices
> $1,437,000
$1,078,001 - $1,437,000
$719,001 - $1,078,000
$575,001 - $719,000
$431,001 - $575,000
$288,001 - $431,000
$144,001 - $288,000
$72,001 - $144,000
$0 - $72,000
6.0%
6.0%
9.2%
9.2%
27.2%
27.2%
19.8%
19.8%
19.7%
19.7%
12.6%
12.6%
3.7%
3.7%
0.9%
0.9%
0.9%
0.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Very High

for Maine

Very High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

9,168

Scarborough Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$2,771 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
76.9%
76.9%
23.1%
23.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
11.4%
11.4%
88.6%
88.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
29.3%
29.3%
48.7%
48.7%
13.2%
13.2%
8.9%
8.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
71.2%
71.2%
7.6%
7.6%
6.8%
6.8%
11.9%
11.9%
2.4%
2.4%
0.0%
0.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
2.5%
2.5%
8.5%
8.5%
23.4%
23.4%
34.0%
34.0%
27.0%
27.0%
4.6%
4.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes