For statistical purposes, the U.S. federal government defines three different representations of the Portland metropolitan area.

The Greater Portland area has emerged as an important center for the creative economy,[3] which is also bringing gentrification.

[4] The Portland–South Portland Metropolitan Statistical Area MSA is defined as consisting of Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and York counties.

Ten years earlier, as of the census[7] of 2000, there were 487,568 people, 196,669 households, and 128,201 families residing within the MSA.

The Portland–Lewiston–South Portland Combined Statistical Area is made up of four counties in Maine.

Two metropolitan NECTAs centered in New Hampshire, the Dover-Durham, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA (anchored by the principal cities of Dover and Durham, New Hampshire) and the Portsmouth, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA (anchored by Portsmouth, New Hampshire) each include three York County towns.

[5] The state of Maine uses NECTAs as one basis for defining labor market areas for purposes of compiling and reporting statistics on employment and unemployment.