Yes.
Maine needs 76,400 to 84,300 more homes by 2030 if current trends continue, according to an oft-cited 2023 report compiled by HR&A Advisors for the Maine State Housing Authority.
That combines the 2023 shortfall of about 38,500 units with another estimated 37,900 to 45,800 units needed to accommodate population changes, smaller household sizes and pent-up demand.
A 2025 housing “roadmap” by HR&A says restrictive zoning, slow permitting and a shortage of construction workers are driving underproduction. The roadmap notes that rising costs and limited infrastructure also make new housing harder to build.
The Maine Legislature has since passed a law easing some local zoning limits to encourage more housing development.
The Maine Development Foundation’s 2025 Measures of Growth report also highlighted worsening affordability, finding that home prices have risen far faster than incomes, leaving 64% of Maine households unable to afford a median-priced home.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Maine Trust for Local News partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Maine State Housing Authority: State of Maine Housing Production Needs Study
- Maine Department of Economic and Community Development: A Roadmap for the Future of Housing Production in Maine
- Maine State Legislature: An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density
- Maine Development Foundation: 2025 Measures of Growth
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