The Finest Locations to Reside in Maine

Cross into the state of Maine on just about any freeway and also you’ll come to a welcome signal that proudly shows the state slogan: “The Method Life Ought to Be.”

At first, that may sound like a fairly lofty purpose to stay as much as. However when you see extra of Maine—the rocky shoreline, the wooded forests, the majestic mountains—and breathe the crisp, contemporary air, it’s possible you’ll begin to agree that state slogan isn’t too far off.

In case you’re studying this text, we’re guessing you could be available in the market to maneuver to the Pine Tree State for a few of that good life. So whether or not you’re searching for a secure place for your loved ones to develop or are a retiree craving some peace and quiet, it’s seemingly you’ll discover a match on our record of the most effective locations to stay in Maine.

An Overview of the Pine Tree State

Maine would possibly tout itself as “the way in which life must be,” however what’s that life precisely? Nicely, it’s a life stuffed with outside journey, charming small cities, and a slower tempo of life. So that you just about have to be okay with all three to essentially thrive there.

The state’s 1.4 million residents are unfold out everywhere in the state’s 31,000 sq. miles, making even Maine’s largest cities appear to be small cities when in comparison with cities in states like California, Texas and even Florida.¹ Most Mainers (or Maine-iacs?) are concentrated within the southeast a part of the state, in order that area feels extra developed—good for metropolis dwellers. The northern and western areas are perfect for extra rugged of us who wish to choose huge plots of land for a extra distant, rural way of life.

In the case of dwelling in Maine, there are each excessive and low factors. For one factor, the Pine Tree State is the most secure state in the whole union, with tremendous low ranges of violent and property crime.² The general public faculties are extremely rated. It’s additionally essentially the most reasonably priced state in all New England.

Nevertheless, the price of dwelling continues to be fairly excessive when in comparison with the nationwide common (Maine is usually excessive on many “most costly states” lists).³ So be ready for comparatively increased housing and transportation bills (although grocery and well being care prices are comparable).

However most Mainers benefit from the outside. They’re actually surrounded by woods and ocean, so that you’ll by no means be too far-off from something outdoorsy should you transfer there. There’s one thing for everybody: climbing, boating, fishing, tenting, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and extra. And the meals can also be tied to the state’s surroundings. Maine is legendary for the lobster and clams caught contemporary off its coast, in addition to the wild Maine blueberries that develop in every single place—even on climbing trails and close to the seashores!

One other truth of life in Maine is the tough winter. Maine sits on the northeast nook of the continental U.S. and is additional north than some elements of Canada! So Maine experiences 4 months of actually chilly climate. In case you’re not into the chilly, Maine won’t be the correct place for you.

The winters could also be brutal, however the summers are lovely . . . and with the summer time comes the busy vacationer season. That additionally has its good and not-so-good factors. Since a lot of Maine’s cities (particularly on the coast) depend on vacationers, loads of the roles are seasonal. And when you can count on populations in these resort cities to blow up in the summertime, they grow to be ghost cities within the winter.

The Finest Locations to Reside in Maine

In the case of “greatest locations,” Maine has plenty of them—each within the metropolis and out within the nation. However earlier than we dive in, let’s get one factor straight: All “greatest locations” lists are subjective, together with this one. Whereas we did use some information factors, the most effective place for you depends upon your private likes and dislikes. Fortunately, Maine has a pleasant number of locations to stay that may swimsuit all tastes and existence. And so as to add slightly extra authenticity to our record, we consulted a number of former Mainers who gave us some native insights based mostly on their private expertise.

As we’ve beforehand touched on, some Mainers just like the extra city small-town life, others go for the agricultural, cabin-in-the-woods sort. And nonetheless extra Mainers cut up the distinction and stay within the rural communities that encompass a metropolis to reap the benefits of the conveniences. That’s why we’ll even be itemizing a few of the smaller cities close to the “greatest locations” we’re highlighting.

Bangor

Although it has its personal historical past courting again to the 1700s, town of Bangor (pronounced “bang-gor”) is legendary as the house of legendary novelist Stephen King. Yep, the man accountable for Carrie, Stand by Me, and The Shining based mostly the fictional city of Derry on Bangor. He even included particular landmarks into his books (like the enormous statue of Paul Bunyan from It—it’s actual!). The city has absolutely embraced its well-known resident with King-inspired decorations and metropolis excursions.

However there’s extra to Bangor than creepy clowns and undead cats. Initially established because the lumber capital of the world (Boston was stated to have been constructed by Bangor lumber), town’s largest trade right this moment is well being care.⁴ Bangor can also be the third-largest metropolis in Maine and boasts its personal worldwide airport, in addition to huge native occasions just like the Bangor State Honest and the Sidewalk Artwork Pageant. And in the course of the summer time, the Penobscot River on town’s southern edge is a superb backdrop for enjoyable water-based recreation.

^{*The metro space inhabitants numbers embrace the citytogether with the encircling city and suburban areas.
**Hire information for Bangor is predicated on a common median.}

Cities Close to Bangor

Brewer
Carmel
Hampden
Orono
Veazie

Bar Harbor

About an hour east of Bangor is the gorgeous seaside city of Bar Harbor. Situated on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor is a city made for the Maine tourism trade, with a quaint downtown space and plenty of actions geared towards guests. Numerous of us have trip houses there. Bar Harbor additionally shares the island with Acadia Nationwide Park—one of the visited nationwide parks within the nation and a showcase of the realm’s gorgeous pure magnificence.

It comes as no shock that Bar Harbor’s prime trade is tourism, with Acadia being its major attraction.¹¹ Different industries embrace scientific analysis and well being care (on the Jackson Laboratory and MDI Organic Laboratory, amongst others). Bar Harbor additionally hosts the annual Acadia Pageant and Bar Harbor Music Pageant. However all the good surroundings and seaside dwelling comes at a steep value. Due to the expense of dwelling there, many individuals work in Bar Harbor and stay in surrounding cities which are cheaper.

^{*Bar Harbor isn’t a part of a metro space, so the inhabitants of town itself was used.
**Hire information for Bangor is predicated on a common median.
***Unemployment price consists of all of Hancock County.}

Cities Close to Bar Harbor

Ellsworth
Hancock
Lamoine
Sorrento
Trenton

Belfast

Although it’s set in a fantastic spot on the Maine coast the place the Passagassawakeag River (that’s a mouthful!) empties into Belfast Harbor, the residents of Belfast don’t consider themselves as a mere vacationer city. Neighborhood is the secret there. It’s a city that prides itself on close-knit connections to neighbors and companies. Actually, in the course of the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, residents made a degree to patronize every native restaurant as soon as per week to maintain everybody afloat. These are some good neighbors!

Neighborhood additionally extends to all of the issues to see and do in Belfast. The city is legendary for its year-round competition schedule—from the Belfast Road Social gathering in the summertime to the Ice Pageant within the winter. Most of the festivals revolve round Belfast’s fame as an arts and tradition hub in Maine. Belfast was settled within the 1700s and named for the capital of Northern Eire, sharing its namesake’s standing as a shipbuilding heart. Right now, the city additionally consists of industries like manufacturing, finance, well being care and training.¹⁸

^{*Belfast isn’t a part of a metro space,so the inhabitants of town itself was used.
**Hire information for Belfast is predicated on a common median.}

Cities Close to Belfast

Belmont
Morill
Northport
Searsmont
Searsport

Farmington

Like most of the cities in Maine, Farmington has connections to the previous world and new world. Based in 1794, the city acquired its identify from the realm’s fertile soil supplied by the close by Sandy River—soil that also helps many farms across the city to at the present time. The downtown district is stuffed with historic buildings courting again a century or extra, containing stylish outlets and eating places. These hip companies appeal to the youthful power of the scholars on the College of Maine at Farmington (UMF).

It looks as if nearly each city has a declare to fame, and Farmington has one of the distinctive. Each December, Farmington hosts Chester Greenwood Day—an enthralling group competition honoring the person who invented earmuffs . . . at age 15 (discuss entrepreneurship!) Farmington can also be well-known for having the most important photo voltaic power farm in New England, which powers near 17,000 houses within the area. Out of doors recreation is huge in Farmington too, significantly snowboarding on the slopes of close by Titcomb Mountain.

^{*Farmington isn’t a part of a metro space,so the inhabitants of town itself was used.
**Hire information for Farmington is predicated on a common median.
***Unemployment price consists of all of Franklin County.}

Cities Close to Farmington

Chisholm
Business
Jay
Livermore Falls
New Sharon
Mercer
Wilton

Portland

Town of Portland has passed by three different names in its 400-year historical past: Machigone, Casco and Falmouth. Via identify adjustments, wars, and a devastating fireplace, Portland has needed to reinvent itself a number of instances—an fascinating truth contemplating that right this moment’s Portland has fairly the combo of individuals and existence. Due to this combination and extra, Portland is the largest metropolis in Maine and is taken into account top-of-the-line locations to stay—not simply within the state, however within the nation.³¹ Regardless of there being only a few tall buildings, it’s the closest a Mainer will come to life within the huge metropolis—full with site visitors!

Portland is located off lovely Casco Bay and was initially based as a serious sea commerce hub. There’s nonetheless loads of that happening, however Portland additionally has companies overlaying industries like training, well being care, manufacturing and tourism.³² The Previous Port district and surrounding waterfront acts as a enjoyable group house whereas celebrating town’s heritage—with trendy outlets and eating places housed in nineteenth century buildings. And the native arts scene is prospering with stay theater, music festivals and road festivals all year long.

Cities Close to Portland

Brunswick
Cape Elizabeth
Cumberland
Falmouth
Freeport
Saco
Yarmouth

Rangeley

The village of Rangeley is a superb instance of a few of the smaller, extra distant communities present in Maine’s northwest area. Rangeley and its close by sister villages kind the Rangeley Lakes Area, which is a year-round resort space surrounded by forests, mountains and lakes (six to be actual). Because of this Rangeley’s important trade is tourism—providing vacationers a few of that trademark Maine outside journey with climbing, mountain biking, fishing and watersports on Rangeley Lake, snowboarding at close by Saddleback Mountain, and extra.

Given Rangeley’s place as a vacationer city, many of the in-town employment is seasonal (can’t actually be a lifeguard on the seashore throughout winter . . . brrr!). Because it’s such a well-liked trip city, folks have snapped up property for trip houses, inflating housing costs over the previous few years, so hold that in thoughts. But when a trip house is in your future (and your price range), Rangeley can be an awesome place to have it.

^{*Rangeley isn’t a part of a metro space, so the inhabitants of town itself was used.
**Hire information for Rangeley is predicated on a common median.}

Rockland

Proper smack-dab in the course of the coast of Maine is Rockland—the lobster capital of the world! A majority of Maine’s well-known lobster is harvested and shipped from Rockland’s waterfront on Penobscot Bay, and loads of the city’s trade is centered round lobster (although there’s additionally manufacturing and know-how, amongst others).⁴⁵ Rockland is so loopy for lobster that they’ve been internet hosting the Maine Lobster Pageant for over 75 years and prepare dinner greater than 20,000 kilos of lobster over its 5 days! Additionally they have the world’s largest lobster cooker to assist out.⁴⁶

However let’s say you’re probably not into seafood. Rockland additionally has a thriving arts group and an energetic downtown with outlets and eating places (although loads of the latter are geared towards serving these scrumptious crimson lobsters). There are museums just like the Middle for Maine Up to date Artwork and the Farnsworth Artwork Museum, in addition to the North Atlantic Blues Pageant and the Pageant of Lights.

^{*The metro space inhabitants numbers embrace the citytogether with the encircling city and suburban areas.
**Hire information for Rockland is predicated on a common median.}

Cities Close to Rockland

Camden
Rockport
Thomaston
Waldoboro
Warren

Finest Locations to Reside in Maine for Households

With its low crime price and well-rated faculties, Maine is a superb place for households to land. The communities listed beneath provide nice family-oriented facilities like public parks and libraries the place youngsters can study and play.

Bangor
Camden
Cape Elizabeth
Cumberland
Freeport
Kennebunkport
York

Finest Locations to Reside in Maine for Younger Professionals

In case you’re a younger single skilled trying to begin your profession or are a risk-taking entrepreneur (like our pal Chester Greenwood), Maine undoubtedly desires you. Actually, should you’re strapped with pupil mortgage funds, Maine will enable you pay your pupil loans—both by decreasing or eliminating your Maine earnings tax or by providing you with $40,000 in pupil mortgage reduction should you’re a first-time residence purchaser.^53,54 So listed below are a number of examples of some cities which are oriented towards the youthful set.

Augusta
Farmington
Hallowell
Previous Orchard Seashore
Portland
Rockland
Saco

Finest Locations to Reside in Maine for Retirees

The median resident age in Maine is 45—the oldest inhabitants in all 50 states.⁵⁵ Plenty of retirees transfer to Maine for its surroundings and leisurely tempo of life, and people longtime residents who do retire often find yourself staying. Plus, Maine could be very near the Canadian border, which implies you may journey as much as the Nice White North and avoid wasting critical cash on drugs (20–30% off in some circumstances—although there are restrictions). Listed below are some locations to think about.

Bar Harbor
Camden
Caribou
Cumberland
Hallowell
Presque Isle
Yarmouth

Able to Transfer to Maine?

Is shifting to Maine the way in which your life must be? Then it’s time to discover a actual property agent. And never simply any actual property agent. For a quick and straightforward technique to discover top-notch native Maine brokers, look no additional than our community of RamseyTrusted brokers.

We solely advocate brokers who know their territory, will maintain you the Ramsey means, and are on a mission that can assist you discover the right place to name residence.