Portland, Maine, named Forbes.com 'most livable' city

I would have almost believed this until I saw Worcester on the list as the 9th best place.

wow - i can't believe that peabody, mass is number 14 -- i grew up there - i still live on the line of danvers/peaboyd -- what the heck do they base this on? Portland i get, peabody, i don't know.

Worcester was #9?

There is something fishy here.

:(

Looks like the Globe is telling you what you already knew. :-)

Cheers,
-Matt

How can it be so livable if it's hard to find a job there? Anyone who has ever lived in Portland knows what I'm saying.

Worcester is one of the ten most livable cities in the country? Do the people who compile these surveys actually go to the cities they're rating?

This sounds just like that survey that rated Malden as the best city to raise kids in...

Forbes cites metro area population as 513,000. They must have used numbers for Portland, OR. Poortland, ME has about 63,000 residents.

born and raised! love portland.

Portland deserves the praise.

You'd have to be an eskimo to agree

too cold! who are you kidding?

Are they kidding? I visited Portland last weekend. The homeless and indigent have taken over the downtown, the Portland museum looks like a vacant building and major portions of the city were obliterated during urban renewal and replaced with bland, overscaled office buildings surrounded by empty plazas and high speed arteries. It has it's moments like the Carrere and Hastings city hall and remnants of the commercial waterfront but most livable city....I don't think so.

Bizarrely, and ironically- Forbes also named Springfield one of the top 10 'fastest declining cities in America last year.
Massachusetts offers all types of living apparently.

Portland is a great city for sure, but liveable, as in year round? Not so much. First, the economy in Maine is terrible, and there aren't a lot of good paying jobs even in the Portland area. Both income taxes (8.5% for income above $19,000) and property taxes are high as well. If you are in the right industry or can work anywhere (including at home), then it is a good place to live - good schools (though mostly in the burbs), safe neighborhoods, cultural attractions, great beaches, etc. And the weather is only slightly worse than in E. Mass. However, I can think of other cities in New England that have similar upsides with better paying jobs.

I like Portland... some great kayaking up there

These rankings are usually very seriously flawed. They create rankings based on RATINGS and select for, across multiple categories, internally conflicting criteria. What does that cause to rise to the top? Mediocrity. Not to ding Portland or any other city, but these results are pretty misleading.

Not really, Breckenridge, CO is a dream place all year round. But I do like Portland.

Downtown Worcester is depressing, grim, and more than a bit scary. Long gone are the glory days when steel and heavy industry put money in people's pockets. The bright spots are the numerous colleges and health care facilities; UMass Medical Center is really coming into its own and has built some handsome new facilities in the past few years. But Downtown's a social disaster.

Portland MAINE? A typo, correct?

My wife and I left Boston about 3 years ago and now we live right outside of Portland, about 10 mins away in Falmouth. Portland is a great place if you don't have to work - because there are ZERO jobs, and the jobs that do exist pay nothing. My wife has a computer science degree and could not find a job with benefits, or a job that paid more than $15.00 hour. And she has over 10 years of experience with some great firms. The taxes are high too. Better have a trust fund or a rich uncle if you plan to live in Portland, and if you do, you'll love it..Otherwise you had better enjoy poverty.

You know this poll has to be suspect when Cambridge come out at #7.

Portland used to be a great place to live and work until the moonbat infestation began in ernest, nowadays most of the southern half of the state has been ruined by these crackpots who fled the mess they created elsewhere, only to create another hellhole.

yay p-town! rock on!

Please tell me that this ridiculous article is a late " April Fool's Day" Joke ?!

Worcester, Peabody? What about Chelsea, Lynn, or Brockton? Anybody want to take investment advice from Forbes?

just moved to portland from mass. absolutly love it.

I have two vivid memories of Portland, Maine. One is being there in the middle of the winter, walking down a street in the central part of the city as an icy, swirling wind engulfed me. I never felt so miserable. But then this forlorn place is surrounded by cold Maine waters so what should you expect in January? The experience topped winter visits I have made to Chicago which is well-known for its biting winter weather. My other visit took place in the summer, when I stopped there with my family for a dinner break. We went to an utterly pretentious restaurant that featured "organic" pizza. After waiting for quite some time for a table, we were informed by the hostess that they had run out of dough! I've never returned.

No way... it's a nice town, but these forbes lists are hardly credible. Last year, they ranked Springfield the 8th best city in the U.S.... this is the same year it had the 40th highest crime rate in the nation. Also, other cities on the list (and I've been to a few of them) make me shake my head.

I live in Portland, it's a nice town, but it's super misleading. 513,000 people in the metro area... PLEASE.

As a Portland - Metro, city bus driver I like the pro aspect, yet have to agree with the statements that the homeless have taken over the downtown. In all truthful reality it is a city in anarchy with an exceedingly poor financial base. Basic laws and ordinances are rarely enforced which creates a, "so what atmosphere" in which red light running and jay walking take the top places in our local Olympics. Do I like Portland (?) yes, but I would also appreciate a tad more reality in its governance, fiscal policies and law enforcement.

Please, there are other places where the weather is far worse than it is in Maine. I grew up there and it is not that bad..you don't need to be an Eskimo to agree. Portland and, Maine in general, are my favorite spots in the States. I am currently in Portland, OR and Portland, ME is FAR more diverse than out here (and it is on the coast, which gives it major bonus points!!), I am planning on moving back in the summer.

Portland has great charm. Worcester has many hidden gems too.

Lovely city, but there are no jobs (nor are there in the rest of Maine), and the state doesn't care to do anything to change the situation. Maine is so addicted to tourism dollars that it's terrified of anything that might grow its economy, I guess. It's a terrible shame, and the reason that there are so many transplanted young (brainy, ambitious, motivated) Mainers in Boston.

I just moved back from Portland after living there a year to try it out. The downtown is miserable. NO jobs. The airport offers no flights of any convenience to the business traveler. But...the ocean is beautiful. The city has nice people. Drivers know not to lose their minds when it snows. But, most liveable city? Hardly-high residential taxes and low paying jobs.

I have to agree with the non-believers....Portland, a great weekend away in the summer.The winter,not so much. But Worcester and Peabody make the entire discussion suspect!

Who made this lisst? Hard up realtors in crappy areas?

PORTLAND MAINE!?! LOL!!

THEY ARE ALL DISGUSTING PLACES- YUK !!!!!!

What a joke.

When's the follow-up article proclaiming Fall River "utopia of the decade"?

It's just a list.

I agree that the job climate is not great in Portland but I do have to disagree with the claims that the homeless have "taken over." When I lived in Portland in 1992 I would have agreed with that statement but in the past 10 years things have improved as the city has grown. For an urban hub it's not unexpected to have a homeless population. The winters are rough and the rents are high but the location is great and the summers are spectacular.

I was born in Portland, now live in Pittsburgh, armpit of America for many reasons. Pittsburgh has also been voted one of America's most livable cities...and let me tell you it is the most AWFUL place I have ever lived!!!! I am moving back to my native New England in a few months, but I have to say I will not be living in Northern New England. I used to think Portland had nothing going for it until I moved to Pittsburgh. While Pittsburgh makes Portland look like Greenwich, CT, the two both are somewhat limited in job prospects minus a few industries like health care. But don't get me wrong, my native Maine is truly one of the most beautiful places in the US. And Portland has certainly improved tremendously since I left the area in 1992.

I've owned a business in Maine for 28 years. I pay my employees $15 hr. because they'll accept it. In Mass I'm sure I'd have to pay double that. Most of the money that comes into Maine is from tourism, paper mills, lobster, & out of staters that buy shorefront property here. Portland is a great city if you're in your 20's - 30's & want to party 3 nites a week from June til Nov. Otherwise, Boston blows it away 8 days a week.

At least I can drive through Portland almost any time of day or night without getting stuck in a major traffic jam. Boston's gridlocked 12 hours a day. I've lived in both Portland and Boston; both have pluses and minuses. Real estate is waaaaaay more affordable within commuting distance of Portland than Boston, but Maine taxes can be brutal. The long winters are an issue, unless you enjoy winter sports, or travelling to warmer climes for a little break. I like the slower pace of life in Maine, but in some areas it's so slow it almost doesn't have a pulse. Yet if you need a breath of fresh air and affordable natural beauty, you can't beat northern New England.

Portland is too cold in the winter

Yeah apparently they have a pretty liberal definition of "metro area" if Portland's has 513,000. Cumberland county has ~275,000, and York county has ~200,000, but that stretches from Brunswick to Kittery and then some, in reality it is probably closer to 300,000.

The real action in Maine is Lewiston - plentiful, high-paying jobs, a gorgeous, revitalized urban center, intelligent, cultured locals, and an abundance of gorgeous coeds at Bates College.

Wait, this is an April Fool's thing, right?

Since I plan to buy a home there shortly, I will tell you all that Portland is a HORRIBLE place and you should NEVER EVER live there, but should merely visit as a tourist when the weather is nice and your wallet is full.

I love J's lobster salad!!!!!!!!

AND Boru's is the bomb all you hataaaas!

Portland is a great city and its economy is much better than the rest of Maine's. Taxes are said to be high, but that's relative. Low taxes here in Texas are great for industry, but then you have to put up with low performing schools, gangs, carjackings, the nation's lowest health insurance coverage, unabated illegal immigration, sprawl, lack of natural beauty, and there's still lots of 90's big hair. Having lived in both, Portland is definitely top notch!

This just has to be joke or some PR promotion for the magazine!
Worcester? are you nuts? Ever been there?
Peabody? the last time I was there they were having brazil day on a Sunday complete with music, flags, boom boxes etc. and the mayor got scorched for it so it didn't happen again.
Get some real time information will you Forbes

I love Portland. Lived there for 10 years which ended in 2000. I made $#i+ for $$ in a professional position. I moved to the west coast for a change of pace, and to make great $$. Now I'm trying to move back to Portland and can't find a professional job in my field that pays a livable salary, nor can my husband. Both of us have 10+ years exp., are trying to move back, but a salary of $35k-$50k for this amount of exp. is just downright insulting. Sorry, Forbes, it's not livable if you can't make a decent salary to actually live there.

Portland is a great small city with great potential to grow in the future. As I am also curious to see why cities such as Worcester made the list, there is no doubt that Portland should have at least made the top 5. I have experienced Portland on many occasions and have always loved every place I visited. I would actually like to move there in the near future. Kudos to Forbes for recognizing a great, often overlooked, city.

I was born in Worcester in grew up in Cambridge. Cambridge I can see on this list...Portland, ME too is a nice little city..havent been to Peabody in years...but I would think Salem. MA should be on the list (in place of Peabody)...but Worcester?! I visit Worcester frequently to see relatives...it seems to me that Worcester should be on the worst places to live list. Who wrote this list? They obviously didnt visit this rust belt like city, who would want to move there?

This is an example of what happens when Kid reporters write stories to sell magazines . Somehow this irony is in line with the harsh treatment that the liberal NYT is giving its union brothers and sisters at the Globe. This entire group are a bunch of two faced knee jerks.

how come Springfield, MA did not make the list?

Gone fishin's correct. Southern Maine,Portland included,is infested with people from away. Maine has a pop. of 1.3 million. One million in the greater Portland- south area. Check out the space for the rest of the pop. Up here,we say,"on a good year we go to Portland once or twice,on a great year,we don't go at all." Can't comment on "most livable city",as I don't feel that ANY city is "livable".

I grew up in Portland but left to join the Air Force because the only jobs then were in tourism, fishing, and retail. Now having lived in other parts of the country for 25 years (with occassional vacations back to New England) I believe it would still be very difficult to find a good job in Portland in spite of my experience in IT and management. I do miss the coast and the ability to go up 302 to the lakes region and the White Mountains of NH.

Portland's OK but as many mention the taxes are high but the back roads remain poorly maintained, pay is generally low, the attitudes of those with the better jobs can be pretentious and provincial, and it helps to be a winter-loving person because winters here are long by any standard. Portland was, at the end of the last ice-age about 15,000 years ago, still under a mile-thick sheet of ice, and no one here talks about the effects of natural global warming having any benefits. If having an overpriced organic pizza in a snappily named local brew pub surrounded by Volvo, Saab, and Subaru driving types week-in week-out is your cup of green tea, then it's the place for you.

Amazing... Peabody and Worcester! Someone must have been on drugs.

Portland, ME?!?!! I'm all set...Peabody & Worcester? I don't believe this survey for a MINUTE...

I live north of Bangor, Maine. I grew up in Revere. It is so refreshing to read this outpouring of MA humor.

I look forward to reading the "Chelmsford, Gateway to Leominster" article.

Yeah, that whole article is suspect. They say Framingham is part of the Cambridge metro area. Really?? Framingham?

Portland is a awesome get away weekend destination

Yes, Portland MAINE is one of the most livable cities. We moved here 10 years ago after having tried Boston, Cambridge, D.C., Phoenix, and NYC. We ski every weekend in the winter and hit the beach most weekends in the summer. It's typically only 4 degrees cooler here than in Boston. My kids ride their bikes around our neighborhood ALONE, and until recently we never locked our home or cars. No traffic, low cost of living, hikes and beaches all within a short drive. We're lucky in having great jobs here -- I know that it is an intensively competitive job market, partly because of the economy but also because lots of highly qualified people want to move here.

Portland has probably the best urban architecture in New England.
But the city's overall design is absurd (Seacoast Architect got it right)-- big arteries, fading city center, homeless, parking issues, snobbery.

Back in the 90s it was boss though, in the days of CASCO BAY WEEKLY....

I enjoy seeing all of the negative comments here because it merely reinforces those people we don't want to see living here.

The calm lifestyle, Portland Sea Dogs, woods nearby, ocean a couple blocks from anywhere, and more make this a gem I would just as soon keep quiet.

Stay home naysayers, if you wish. We enjoy people visit folks with a more positive outlook on life anyway.

Best wishes,
Portland Resident Since 1983, Cambridge before that...

I, like Holly Mason, have lived in both Pittsburgh and Portland. At the moment, I live in downtown Portland. It's a nice place; Portland is a medium-size city with lots to do, great restaurants, nearby beaches, great used bookstores, friendly people, and a relaxed atmosphere. But I would move back to Pittsburgh in a heartbeat. Of all the cities I've lived in, which are legion, Pittsburgh was by far the most livable. Everything we have here in Portland, other than the ocean, Pittsburgh has in greater number. It has even more cultural attractions, better restaurants, more neighborhoods and funkier neighborhoods, and, save for the city tax and the beer tax, it was a pretty cheap place to live. And, Pittsburgh has jobs galore. Companies are moving to Pittsburgh all the time to take advantage of its highly educated population. That's not true in Portland, and I imagine I will have to leave it someday when I need a different job. As for the homeless, I don't notice that more here than I did in Pittsburgh. It's everywhere, especially in a state as rural and as poor as Maine, but I can see how it might appear more prevalent in a smaller city and in a city made more densely populated because the bay and the cove hinders sprawl.

Portland, Maine, is awesome I grew up here, and love it. Barely any crime, beautiful women, and cheap lobster.

I have lived in Portland now for 3 years, after living my former adult life in Seattle and Boston. Yes, it's a small town, cold in the winter,and with a limited economy. But the quality of place is hard to top. Amazing natural beauty in all directions, good restaurants, nice people, affordable property, no traffic, decent schools. You'd think with all that going for it, it would attract more businesses and smart people to work at them.

The Old Port is one of my favorite places to go! Flatbreads pizza is amazing and the shopping is fantastic! I come here almost every weekend and during the summer I'm always there! Being a boater, we used to sail into the ports all the time and grab some lobster! Mainers have very great pride in their state, probably more than anyone else. I love it here!

I live in Portland, and have worked in the Old Port for around six years or so. Three of those years were as a college student working 20-40 hours a week, where I made $10/hr for a sales position. Before graduating, I lined up a job with a professional services firm for around $40k -- two years later, I'm making $55k. Jobs aren't exactly falling out of the sky, but I don't think they are anywhere in the US right now. I don't have much to compare the homelessness too; it's much more apparent in the winter than in the summer, and can be quite depressing. But they've far from "taken over" the downtown area. Portland isn't perfect, but you have all the fixings of a big city with a ten minute commute to work.

I love Portland, but "most livable" it is not. It is not possible to live your life to the fullest in a city that has (at least 5 months of) crappy cold weather, bad roads, limited public transportation system, and no industry (no new jobs, low paying jobs). The average Forbes Magazine reader is a 43 year old male earning $88,000. I guess a person of that demographic could find Portland "most livable", but for the average young person, I'd say no way. For they guy who said: "Stay home naysayers, if you wish. We enjoy people visit folks with a more positive outlook on life anyway." Sorry dude, but the city/state is going to need more than a positive outlook to make it a better place for people

peoples(especially young people) to live.,

My home town. Portland, ME. It's a great place and getting better with every passing year. What more could the outdoor enthusiast want? Sun and 30 miles of beaches nearby in the summer. Hot, but not too hot. Skiing within an hours drive in the winter. Lakes galore. Low crime, decent restaurants, things to do! No traffic, lots of shopping in Freeport, (LL Bean), Kittery, the mall, all within 40 minutes. Yeah, it's true. Jobs aren't plentiful. Oh, did I mention the USM, right downtown. Climate? Take a break to the south in winter. I can REALLY see this being one of the best, most diverse and "real" places for singles and families alike. Good Choice Forbes. Acadia NP is 3 hours away!

All you people who whine that its too cold are a bunch of sissies.

We moved to Portland a year ago as upper middle class retired citizens from the south. One thing that drew us here was the great support of the Arts. The Portland Symphony is superb, Port Opera is outstanding, good theater, and a wonderful art museum. The people here support the arts. Everything is within ten minutes drive. Yes the taxes are high but they use them to support the less fortunate . People here support Maine because they love it. It is not a city for people with minimum education and skills looking for a job, but for the well educated with top skills it is a mecca to raise a family. It has its problems like all cities but how they address them makes the difference.

Worcester has a challenge in it's downtown but it is made up of great villages which makes it a wonderful place to raise a family. It has an abundance of very good restaurants and some that are great. Highly recommend Worcester as a liveable city much more suited for families than Portland. I have homes in both Maine and in Worcester and was raised in the Portland area. Worcester is a secret gem in New England.

Yeah its a great place if you are rich and can enjoy every season without working.. Any wonder why one of its greatest exports are graduating college students? No work, lousy pay, lots of scum. Maine lacks in every aspect but scenery, who rates these places?

IF any of you actually read what the list was based on, for one the weather wasn't a factor so anyone saying too cold or what not try reading the article.
Otherwise, everyone saying Peabody is a terrible town must have a stupid grudge or something because there is nothing wrong here based on what the list was rating. Just because you might not like living here doesn't mean anything. Its one of the better cities in the area, diverse and includes all different types of people and businesses from the mall, the square, etc. Ive lived and other cities and couldn't stand it compared to the life in Peabody.

Portland...It's a Lotta Smell for a Little City...Speaking of Casco Bay Weekly

I grew up in Maine, lived in Boston for a year, and in Brattleboro, VT for 2 years. But now I am back in Maine, living in Portland since the end of 2005. Out of all the places in Maine, Portland is the only place worth living. However I far from consider it the MOST livable. Rents are out of control and on par (if not higher than) many neighborhoods in Chicago. And with the economy the way it is, fewer places are offering rent with heat included... which anyone that lives in Maine, knows is a huge deal. The pay is crap and so is the job market. It does have many beautiful spots to walk to and around. The Old Port is a great place to be in the summer. But that should not mask what truly makes a place liveable.

Portland is a very diverse,culture rich,booming place.It is a tourist friendly area,hosting dozens of cruise ships and bus tours from May-november.Yes it has its flaws,But there is always something to do there and its only a short train ride to Boston...the waterfront views and access to the Islands of casco Bay are also beyond compare...gotta love Portland

Portland is too cold? Says who? I had the impression that this was primarily a New Englanders website???

As far as I'm concerned, Portland is just like Boston or Portsmouth, except the people from Portland have a higher survival rate on the snowy roads...

There are many cold place in the U.S. - it's just a matter of dressing right in the Winter, along with taking advantage of cold weather sports. Portland offers so much - charm, fresh air, scenery, quality of life, water. It's not cookie-cutter like many metro areas are these days. As a business traveler (an hour from Portland) there are now also options of AirTran and JetBlue for low cost travel - along with easy commute to Boston transportation. Maine is the best place to raise a family, and Portland deserves #1.

Over the last 5 years – the downtown has turned into an eclectic mix of shops, art galleries, and restaurants. With the addition of restaurants like Miake, E, and the Grill Room, to compliment institutions such as Beckys, Street and Co, and Fore Street - Portland blends a little old with a little new. The city has revitalized Munjoy Hill, the West End, and Old Port. The current plans for West Commercial Street and Bayside will provide job opportunities and a way of life unsurpassed in any little city.

I love Portland! Moved here about 5 years ago right after college. I own a car but I only use it a few times a week--mostly I walk or bike or bus all over town. It's big enough to have lots of things to do every night, but small enough that I always run into a friend or 5 downtown. And it's right on the ocean--can't beat that! :)

Ive lived in Worcester for 40 Years and its a dump. Yesterday my mother was robbed they took her car and pocketbook, shes lucky they didnt kill her. Theres alot of road rage and miserable attititudes everywhere. Mabye 20 years ago it was ok. Not now, I dont know who came up with most livable cities as worcester or if the guy was on drugs theres alot of that here also. Im sorry but Worcester is the city you would dream of leaving. For anyone who doubts what im saying just come here and see what I mean.

I'm 20 and have lived in Worcester for almost all of my life. Seeing it as the 9th most livable city made me simultaneously laugh my ass off and crap my pants. Worcester has a rising problem in gang-related violence, and I'm seeing carjackings, stabbings, and robberies with deadly weapons everyday in the court reports. I agree that whoever put Worcester at number 9 HAD to be on drugs, because that's the one thing that Worcester is plentiful in with a wide variety. Worcester is a city that slowly sucks all the life, hopes, happy emotions, and dreams out of your family and children. Growing up in Worcester I never had a problem, but once I became old enough to realize what was what, I recognized the despair of my living situation. On a sidenote, Worcester has very little entertainment for teenage kids besides drinking, smoking, and sex, or any combination of those 3. I would reccommend an extended visit before you move here. Sidenote 2, it ain't all like that, we DO have SOME major highlights, but personally, I don't feel their pros match up against the obvious cons.
Either way I'll take the big ups, 508 representin

WORCESTER'S AWESOME :) :)

I live in S.Portland, just across the water from Portland, and have done so for 25 years +. I love the city, I love the architecture and the beauty but jobs are a huge issue. My 20 year old son is unemployed, my college grad daughter is under employed and my 2 year Associates Degree daughter barely makes a living wage It is very VERY expensive here and without some solid effort and thinking turned towards jobs, Portland could be on the way down.

Worcester is not bad at all. There's minimal crime and actually some very nice areas, especially on the West side. The property is cheap and it's close enough for people to commute in any direction. There are a lot of good restaurants, shopping, etc. I recommend Baba Sushi if you are in town.

Portland is also a nice place. Gotta love Maine.

I was born in Portland and left the area when I went to college. I thought about returning four years ago after living in Massachusetts and then Virginia. I could not find a social work job that paid a living wage or any other job with my Bachelor's degree that paid enough to live in that area. I agree with the folks who say you have to be independently wealthy to live there. I don't know how I could live in Portland. Maybe I can return when I am elderly and living on Social Security and a pension!

Worcester is not as bad as people claim; yes there is crime but what major city doesn't have that? Downtown right now is dead, but with citysquare initiated things are looking up. UMASS and the rest of the colleges here are actively engaging in the community which will only provide further improvement for the city.

oh, and the people here are more down-to-earth compared to Bostonians

I think that Worcester's problem is one of perception. It is statistically a very safe city. For example the amount of people murdered in Boston in the year 2008 Far eclipsed the number murdered in Worcester from 1999-2008. But their is a perception that Boston is safe. Also the idea that it is a scary place I think is really overblown. There is not a single area that I would feel especially unsafe in. Also I think when people say that Worcester is "scary", or "gritty" they really mean that their are a lot of minorities. I think there is a racial component that implies that because an area is racial and economically diverse it is substandard to homogeneous areas.

I just moved to Worcester from the Atlanta area so it is interesting to see all of the negative comments about Worcester. Atlanta is a city of hype and boosterism while Worcester still has a sense of place about it. Sure parts of the city are gritty but they are real, not like the plastic and chrome Atlanta bought into to "update its image." Atlanta only works well for you if you have a six figure income and don't mind spending two hours a day stuck in traffic. Worcester is not a tourist town like many of the places people rave about but it is an easy place to live.

If Portland/ ME is depressing why is it so hard for me to get there on a weekend in the summer, and why do so many people go there?? I see more out of state plates in ME today then ever before. My advice to the MA, CT, NY, NJ and PA people is stay home, enjoy what your own state has to offer, leave ME to ME. Should you feel compelled to come to ME leave the attitude at home, be respectful of the locals and give back to your summer community. We have and will continue to protect it while you’re gone.

I have been reading through the many comments and wanted to clarify some things. When Forbes listed Peabody they were referring to Essex County. YES, Portland, ME metro is well over 500,000 population according the metro standards established by the US CENSUS BUREAU--the metro area is Sagadahoc, Cumberland and York counties. The article on Forbes.com was clear in that they used METRO populations so those mentioning that Portland's population is smaller than 500,000 are wrong. I have lived here in the Boston area for 7 years after 11 years in Metro Portland and I can tell you that Portland has so much to offer on a smaller, manageable scale. When I bring visitors to Portland and spend a day they are all impressed with what they experience there and see: A very beautiful city with great historic preservation, unsurpassed ocean views, close proximity to mountains and lakes, cultural attractions, sports and great restaurants.

looks like the mayor of worcester paid off forbes magazine a pretty lil penny :)