You can do a search on the internet for Portland, Maine and find out some information. I've been to Maine once and I loved it. If I ever leave Alaska, Maine would definitely be on my list of possible places to live.
http://www.ci.portland.me.us/
http://www.maine.gov/portal/living/moving.html
http://homes.mainetoday.com/moving/relocating/
http://www.maineco.org/advantages/lifestyle.htm

Another thing you can do is call/write/e-mail the Portland newspaper and get a subscription (or find out if their newspaper is online--The Anchorage Daily News is online). That way you can look at what houses and apartments are going for and what jobs are paying to help you make up your mind about moving.