Domestic Partnership in Maine - Demographics

Demographics

In 2000, the federal census counted 37,881 unmarried-couple households in Maine; of these, 8.95%, or 3,394, were same-sex couples (44% male, 56% female). In contrast, the same census showed 272,152 married couples in the state. Total state population was 1,274,923.

In a June, 2008, report the Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law analyzed census data and concluded, "While in many respects Maine’s same-sex couples look like married couples, same-sex couples with children have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than married parents and lower rates of homeownership."

The report noted, among other things, that:

• By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 4,847. This increase likely reflects same-sex couples’ growing willingness to disclose their partnerships on government surveys.
• In 2005, there were an estimated 52,801 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) living in Maine.
• There are more female same-sex couples (56%) than male same-sex couples (44%) in Maine.
• Individuals in same-sex couples are, on average, 43 years old, and significantly younger than individuals in married couples (49 years old) in Maine.
• Same-sex couples live in every county in Maine and constitute 1.1% of coupled households and 0.7% of all households in the state.
• 8% of individuals in same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared with 2% of married individuals.
• The median income of same-sex coupled households in Maine is $62,000, compared to $50,140 for married couples. The average household income of same-sex couples is $64,134, compared to $61,512 for married couples.
• 63% of same-sex couples in Maine own their home, compared to 87% of married couples.
• The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $38,100, or 30% lower than that of married parents ($54,600). The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $45,089, significantly less than $64,965 for married parents.
• While 44% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a significantly larger percentage of married parents (86%) own their home.
• 16% of same-sex couples in Maine are raising children under the age of 18.
• As of 2005, an estimated 1,228 of Maine’s children are living in households headed by same-sex couples.
• In Maine, married and same-sex couples with children under 18 in the home have, on average, two children.
• 5% of Maine’s adopted children (or 323 children) live with a lesbian or gay parent.