Living in Maine as an Arab or Muslim: Lewiston & Portland Guide 2026
Maine is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in New England, and knowing the local rules from day one saves you time and money.
In short: Maine, centered on Lewiston and Portland, is home to one of the largest Muslim refugee communities in New England — mostly Somali, not Arab. Driver's licenses are handled by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) under the Secretary of State, and the knowledge exam is officially available in Arabic. As of September 2026, income tax is graduated from 5.8% to 7.15%, and sales tax is a flat 5.5%.
Maine's Arab and Muslim Community: Where People Live
Maine isn't known for a large historic Arab population the way Michigan or New York are, but it is home to one of the largest Muslim refugee communities in the United States — predominantly Somali, who began settling in Lewiston in the early 2000s after arriving first in nearby Portland, which faced a housing shortage. Today Lewiston has mosques, Arabic-language classes, and community service centers serving the Somali and Somali Bantu communities specifically.
Arab communities in the narrower sense — from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan — are smaller and concentrated more in greater Portland, where refugee resettlement agencies and immigrant assistance centers operate. If you're arriving from an Arab country, you'll likely find the nearest mosque and cultural center in Portland or Lewiston, though the density of Modern Standard Arabic speakers stays lower than Somali speakers locally.
Just arrived? Read the First 90 Days in the USA guide before diving into Maine-specific details.
Housing Costs in Portland and Lewiston
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes official Fair Market Rents each year, used as a benchmark for rent by area and ZIP code. The Portland metro area (Cumberland County) is Maine's most expensive housing market, while Lewiston-Auburn (Androscoggin County) stays comparatively cheaper. Exact figures shift every fiscal year and by ZIP code, so don't rely on a number quoted elsewhere.
For the full, current FY2026 table by area and ZIP code, use the lookup tool at HUD USER's official site — select Maine, then Portland-South Portland or Lewiston-Auburn. To understand the rest of your monthly budget, see the Cost of Living in the USA guide.
Driver's License: The BMV and REAL ID
Driver's licenses and state IDs in Maine are handled by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), part of the Secretary of State's office — not a "DMV" as in many other states. All transactions run through maine.gov/sos/bmv or an in-person branch visit.
- Gather your documents. Proof of identity, Social Security number if you have one, and proof of Maine residency. Non-English documents need a certified translation.
- Note the language you need when you apply. The knowledge exam is available digitally in several languages including Arabic; if your language isn't digital, the BMV provides a free live interpreter as of February 2026.
- Schedule and attend a branch visit. You'll take a photo and vision exam, and sit the knowledge exam if this is your first U.S. license.
- Pass the road skills test after passing the knowledge exam and completing the required practice period for your age.
Per the Maine BMV's official driver's license exam page, the knowledge test is available digitally in nine languages: Arabic, Canadian French, English, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Swahili.
On REAL ID: it became required starting May 7, 2025 to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings. Getting one is optional, not mandatory for every resident, but without a REAL ID or a valid U.S. passport you won't be able to fly domestically. Full details are on the official REAL ID page. For general steps that apply across most states, see the Driver's License in the USA guide and the DMV Test in Arabic guide.
Taxes in Maine
Maine applies a graduated income tax across several brackets, not a flat rate.
| Tax type | Rate (as of September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Individual income tax | Graduated from 5.8% to 7.15%, plus a 2% surcharge on income above $1 million for individuals |
| General sales tax | 5.5% statewide, no local add-ons |
These rates are confirmed by Maine Revenue Services, and income brackets are adjusted annually for inflation, so check the official schedule for your filing year before estimating your tax. For steps on your first filing, see the First Tax Return guide and the complete U.S. Taxes guide. If you don't have a Social Security number, start with the ITIN Number guide.
Health Coverage: MaineCare and the CoverME Marketplace
If your job doesn't offer health insurance, Maine residents have two main paths.
MaineCare is the state's Medicaid program, offering free or low-cost coverage to residents who meet income and household requirements. Eligibility and application details are on the official Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) page.
If you don't qualify for MaineCare or your income is above the limit, Maine runs its own state-based marketplace called CoverME.gov, unlike states that rely directly on the federal exchange. See coverme.gov for eligibility and enrollment dates.
To understand the difference between plans, see the Health Insurance in the USA guide and the Medicaid for Immigrants guide, and check enrollment timing in the Marketplace Open Enrollment guide.
Maine's 2026 Minimum Wage
Maine's minimum wage rose to $15.10 per hour effective January 1, 2026, according to the state Department of Labor, up from $14.65 in 2025. State law requires an annual cost-of-living (CPI-W) adjustment for the Northeast region, following a voter-approved referendum.
| Category | Hourly rate (as of Jan 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $15.10 |
| Tipped workers | $7.55 |
For the full current schedule and updates, see the official Maine Department of Labor page, and to compare against other states, see the U.S. DOL state minimum wage table and the Minimum Wage by State guide.
Renting and Tenant Rights Basics
Before signing any lease in Maine, know the basics of your rights as a tenant:
- Under the "implied warranty of habitability," your home must be safe and healthy, including a heating system able to reach at least 68°F.
- A landlord cannot force you out or change the locks without a court order.
- If you pay any rent in cash, the landlord must give you a receipt on the spot.
- A landlord cannot make you pay for another tenant's utilities or common-area utilities.
For the full official reference, see Pine Tree Legal Assistance, the state's main free legal aid organization, which offers self-help tools and forms for lease and eviction issues. If you don't have a credit history yet, see the Renting an Apartment with No Credit guide.
Enrolling Kids in School
Every child residing in Maine, regardless of immigration status, has the right to attend free public school — a federal principle settled by the Supreme Court's Plyler v. Doe decision. Schools cannot ask about immigration status to determine eligibility, and may only require proof of residency within the school district. Every student, including immigrant students, is screened for English proficiency and is entitled to ESOL services if needed.
For the state-level official reference, see the Maine Department of Education (DOE). For the general step-by-step process, see the Enrolling Kids in U.S. Schools guide.
Community Resources in Maine
In Lewiston, the United Somali Women of Maine, founded in 2001, is one of the oldest community organizations, focused on empowering Somali women and girls. The Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine is also active in resettlement services and cultural support; reach it at somalibantumaine.org. Both primarily serve the Somali Muslim community, and remain the closest organized Muslim community resource in the state even for non-Somali speakers.
For more resources and vetted service providers near you, browse our Maine business and services directory, and for prayer times in your city, see Prayer Times.
Common Mistakes New Arrivals Make in Maine
- Assuming Maine has no significant Muslim community. Lewiston and Portland host one of the largest Somali Muslim populations in New England.
- Searching for a "DMV" instead of the "BMV." Maine's official agency is the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
- Assuming Maine uses the federal healthcare.gov marketplace. The state runs its own exchange, CoverME.gov.
- Relying on unofficial figures for income tax or minimum wage. Brackets and rates adjust yearly — always verify against the official source before a financial decision.
What's Next
Once you've handled the Maine basics, these are the logical next steps:
- Driver's License in the USA guide for the general process before your BMV visit.
- Health Insurance in the USA guide to compare MaineCare against the CoverME marketplace.
- First 90 Days in the USA guide if you've just arrived and haven't set your basic priorities yet.
Frequently asked questions
Are there Arabs in Maine, or is the community only Somali?
Maine's largest Muslim community is Somali by origin, concentrated in Lewiston and Portland, but smaller Arab communities from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon also exist, concentrated more in greater Portland.
Is Maine's driver's license agency called the DMV?
No. Maine's agency is the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), part of the Secretary of State's office, not a DMV.
Is the driver's knowledge test available in Arabic?
Yes. According to Maine BMV's official driver's license exam page, the digital knowledge test is available in Arabic among nine available languages.
What is Maine's income tax rate?
Maine's income tax is graduated from 5.8% to 7.15% according to the state Revenue Services, plus a 2% surcharge on individual income above $1 million a year.
Does Maine use the federal healthcare.gov marketplace?
No. Maine runs its own state-based health insurance marketplace called CoverME.gov, rather than the shared federal exchange.
What if I don't have health insurance through my job?
You may qualify for MaineCare if your income falls within eligibility limits, or enroll through the CoverME.gov marketplace for a subsidized plan.
What is Maine's minimum wage in 2026?
Maine's minimum wage rose to $15.10 per hour on January 1, 2026, according to the state Department of Labor, adjusted annually for cost of living.
Where can I find a Muslim community organization in Lewiston?
United Somali Women of Maine and the Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine are among the most active organizations in Lewiston, offering resettlement and community support services.
Official sources we reviewed
- Maine SOS – REAL ID ↗
- Maine SOS – Driver's License Exam (languages) ↗
- Maine Revenue Services – Individual Income Tax ↗
- Maine Revenue Services – Sales and Use Tax Rates ↗
- Maine DHHS – MaineCare / Health Care Assistance ↗
- CoverME.gov ↗
- Maine Department of Labor – Minimum Wage Increase 2026 ↗
- U.S. DOL – State Minimum Wage Laws ↗
- HUD USER – Fair Market Rents ↗
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance – Your Rights as a Tenant ↗
- Maine Department of Education – School Enrollment ↗
- Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine ↗