Over the past five years, the cost of living in Maine has risen faster than almost anywhere else in New England. While wages have inched upward, the price of everyday necessities — housing, groceries, and energy — has climbed far faster, leaving too many Mainers feeling squeezed. Housing costs have surged by more than 50% since 2020 , with the median home price jumping from roughly $235,000 to over $350,000. Nearly four out of five households can no longer afford a median-p
Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls have a long history rooted in manufacturing, including decades of work in the paper mills and shoe factories. These sectors provided stable, good-paying jobs that supported families and shaped the local economy. As these industries have closed or relocated elsewhere, the region has experienced significant job losses and a shift in available employment opportunities. We must take practical steps to support job growth and long-term economic r
Too many families in our region are being squeezed by rising rents, skyrocketing home prices, and a housing market that no longer works for working people. Younger generations who want to put down roots and buy a home are finding that the dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach. At the same time, employers across Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls are struggling to retain workers because there simply aren’t enough affordable, quality places for them to live.
