Neighborhood · Portland, ME

Back Cove Eviction Risk: Moderate

1 census tracts · pop 3,743 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.2/10 · range 4.2–4.2

Back Cove is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Portland with 1 census tract and a population of 3,743 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 4.2/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 53% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 34% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,691/month sits 7% higher than the Portland citywide average ($1,577).

Risk score

4.2

Moderate

1 tracts · population-weighted

Back Cove vs Portland How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

52.9% +73%

Portland: 30.6%

Average gross rent

$1,691 +7%

Portland: $1,577

Average HH income

$103,581 +36%

Portland: $76,174

Poverty rate

4.2% -63%

Portland: 11.3%

Renter share

29.6% -44%

Portland: 53.2%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Back Cove and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 1 tracts span score 4.2–4.2

Why Back Cove scores 4.2

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 4.0–4.0 across tracts

4.0

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 6.8–6.8 across tracts

6.8

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 6.5–6.5 across tracts

6.5

Rent control risk

53% of income on rent · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Tenant organizing strength

30% renter households · Range 6.0–6.0 across tracts

6.0

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Economic stress

4.2% below poverty line · Range 1.0–1.0 across tracts

1.0

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 3.4–3.4 across tracts

3.4

Risk score comparison

Back Cove vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

1 tracts in Back Cove

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
23005001800	4.2	3,743	53%	$1,691

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 21

Pop-weighted across 1 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 13%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 13%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 19%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 67%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Back Cove

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

6.2%Housing insecurity
4.5%Utility shutoff threat
5.4%Food insecurity
6.4%SNAP enrollment
5.0%No health insurance
22.3%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Back Cove

What is the eviction-risk score for Back Cove?

Back Cove scores 4.2/10 (Moderate tier) across 1 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Back Cove compare to Portland overall?

Back Cove scores 1.7 points lower than Portland overall (5.9/10). Renters spend 53% of income on rent vs 31% citywide. Average rent: $1,691 vs $1,577.

What is the average rent in Back Cove?

Average gross rent in Back Cove is $1,691/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Back Cove residents are renters?

30% of Back Cove households are renter-occupied (vs 53% in Portland). The neighborhood has 3,743 residents.

Is Back Cove a high social-vulnerability area?

Back Cove sits in the 21st percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (low vulnerability). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

How safe is Back Cove for landlords?

Back Cove carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.2/10). Pop-weighted across 1 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Portland as a whole (5.9/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Back Cove?

Back Cove has 3,718 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (90%), Other / Multiracial (4.8%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (2.3%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Back Cove

4.5 North Deering 2 tracts · pop 11,045 5.1 East Bayside 2 tracts · pop 4,494 5.4 Parkside 2 tracts · pop 6,790 6.2 Arts District 3 tracts · pop 7,129 3.1 Ferry Village 2 tracts · pop 7,152

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Portland

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Back Cove.

4.4 North Deering 2 tracts · pop 11,045 4.6 Stroudwater 1 tracts · pop 2,598 4.7 Brighton Corner 1 tracts · pop 4,923 4.7 Deering Center 1 tracts · pop 4,000 4.7 East Deering 1 tracts · pop 3,717 5 Sagamore Village 1 tracts · pop 3,417

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