(A Compare & Contrast for Anyone Thinking of Moving to Colorado or Maine)
If you’ve ever debated between the Rocky Mountains and the rugged coast of New England, this post is for you. I wanted to write an honest compare-and-contrast for anyone considering a move to either Colorado or Maine — because after living in Colorado Springs for years and now traveling 600 miles through Maine on our honeymoon, we’ve seen both sides up close.
This isn’t meant to be nasty or dramatic — just truthful. We love both places for different reasons, but only one of them feels like “home” to us now.
Colorado Springs: Beautiful, but Bursting
There’s no denying Colorado is beautiful. The Rockies are magnificent, the air used to be crisp, and the sense of adventure is still there — somewhere under the crowds and construction. But lately, it feels like the balance tipped.
We’re angry — and we’re not the only ones.
Colorado Springs has changed. The people have changed. There’s a level of tension here that’s impossible to ignore. Drivers are entitled, aggressive, arrogant, and just plain pissed off. You can feel it everywhere — in traffic, in stores, in conversations. It’s exhausting just leaving the house.
We don’t really see sunsets in Colorado Springs — the mountains block them. Add in the dry, hazy air, and what used to be a breathtaking view has turned into a muted gray sky by evening. I miss those true sunsets — the kind that set the whole horizon ablaze in orange and pink.
Colorado is getting hotter, too — both in temperature and temperament. And then there’s the crime.
Colorado Springs Crime Grades (2025)
- Overall Crime Grade™: D-
- Violent Crime Grade: D+
- Property Crime Grade: D-
- Other Crime Grade: D
- Cost of Crime™: $162.6 million
- Property crime alone will cost $538 per household in 2025.
Population Growth (2025 Projections):
- Metro area: ~777,634 (up 1.14% from 2024)
- City proper: between 498,788–709,000, depending on the dataset
Colorado Springs has gone from a laid-back mountain town to a congested, overdeveloped city that can’t keep up with itself. Unless you have millions to live closer to the ski towns — where the peace still exists — you’re stuck battling rising costs, endless construction, and people who forgot how to slow down.
Maine: The Quiet Beauty
Maine is the opposite in almost every way — and that’s exactly what we needed.
During our honeymoon, we drove nearly 600 miles across the state — inland, along the coast, and through the forested backroads of Bangor, Augusta, and Portland. Everywhere we went, we found calm, courtesy, and beauty that hasn’t been paved over.
While Maine welcomes about 14 million visitors each year (compared to Colorado’s 95 million), it still feels peaceful and authentic. The people are friendly but not intrusive. The roads are well-kept and calm. Everyone seems content just… being.
The freeways are lined with trees, and as you approach the coast, they open up to reveal the ocean — endless blue meeting sky. The water is pristine, and the air feels alive. You can see straight through the water from the piers. There’s zero trash anywhere. Even the rest stops are clean.
We visited Bar Harbor, which was still lively this time of year, but it had a cozy, winding-down-for-the-season vibe. Gift shops were running sales, and locals were chatting about closing up for winter. Hotels had already shut off the ACs for the year, so we slept with the windows open and breathed in cool sea air while the stars shimmered outside.
Portland, Maine: I’ll Eat Crow (Gladly)
I’ll admit — I didn’t expect to like Portland. I thought it would feel unsafe or chaotic. But after spending time there, I’m eating crow.
Yes, there’s some crime, drugs, and homelessness, but compared to Houston, Detroit, or Los Angeles, where we’ve both lived, Portland, Maine is a walk in the park.
Portland Crime Grades (2025)
- Overall Crime Grade™: D+
- Violent Crime Grade: A-
- Property Crime Grade: D
- Other Crime Grade: D+
- Cost of Crime™: $12.7 million
- Violent crime will cost $386 per household in 2025.
We’re not planning to live in the city itself, but we’d love to be within about 30 minutes — close enough for a good restaurant or market, but far enough for space and quiet.
Population Comparison:
- Portland, Maine (2025): ~68,600
- Colorado Springs Metro (2025): ~777,000
That’s a 91% smaller population, and you can feel it. Fewer people, fewer problems, more peace.
The Difference You Can Feel
Maine feels like healing. Both of us feel lighter — mentally and physically. The air is clean, the water sparkles, and even driving is peaceful.
The slower pace here is a pro, not a drawback. People take their time. They’re patient in line. No one’s rushing, and no one seems angry about it. After years of constant pressure in Colorado Springs, that slower rhythm feels like medicine.
Maine reminds me so much of England — church steeples at the heart of each town, fog over green pastures, and homes that are all unique and full of character. There’s no sense of “cookie-cutter” living here. It’s real, it’s natural, and it’s calm.
The grocery stores are wonderful — cozy markets, local produce, and even a Whole Foods in Portland for our cheese runs. And the Halloween decorations? Absolutely unmatched.
The Trade-Offs We’re Ready For
We know Maine isn’t perfect. The winters will be long. Snowfall will be heavy. Heating costs will go up. The job market is smaller. And growing seasons will be shorter.
But compared to Colorado Springs — with its overcrowding, crime, road rage, heat, high costs, and tension — we’ll take the trade any day.
Maine refueled our souls. Colorado Springs sucks them dry.
Even many of my clients have already moved away or are planning to leave soon. COVID really fractured this city. The neighborly kindness that once defined Colorado Springs has been replaced with impatience, entitlement, and anger.
What We’re Looking For
We’re not chasing nightlife. We’re chasing peace. We want land — ten acres or more — where we can build a homestead, grow food, and live close to nature without being cut off from good coffee and conversation.
We still love restaurants, local shops, and community, but we want to wake up to the sound of birds, not sirens.
Maine gives us that balance — quiet when we want it, connection when we need it.
Goodbye, Mountains. Hello, Ocean.
Leaving Colorado Springs isn’t about giving up. It’s about finally choosing peace — and the place that helps us breathe again.
We’re trading chaos for calm. Noise for nature. And dry, dusty mountains for rolling fog and ocean air.
Colorado gave us lessons. Maine gives us life.
And after 600 miles of driving inland and along the coast — past forests, lakes, and waves — we’re confident we’ve found where we belong.
Maine feels like home already. 💙
