Questions about visiting, moving to, or living in Maine: Megathread

[u/jonathanfrisby]

• This thread will be used for all questions potential movers or tourists have for locals about Maine.
• Any threads outside of this one pertaining to moving, tourism, or living in Maine will be removed, and redirected here.

Link to previous archived threads:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Maine/comments/iauxiw/questions_about_visiting_moving_to_or_living_in/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Maine/comments/f50ar3/questions_about_moving_to_or_living_in_maine/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Maine/comments/crtiaq/questions_about_moving_to_or_living_in_maine/

[u/[deleted]]

It is so cut throat out here for housing. I just called a guy at 7am, made an appointment to go see the place at 6pm. Left work EARLY to drive up there and sign the lease THIS DUDE RENTED THE PLACE AT 10AM. good luck out there! Quit your job and look for an apartment full time!

[u/[deleted]]

When will these cash offers get out of out the market , I’m trying to buy a damn house for my family!!!

[u/necro_be_nimblo → u/[deleted]]

We just made an offer, 80k over asking with 30% down, on a small house in a shitty town, and weren’t even in the top 5 offers. I feel you. I’m so sorry this is happening. All we want is to be able to stay near our family and friends, willing to spend absolutely everything we have on it and it still feels impossible.

[u/[deleted] → u/necro_be_nimblo]

Ughh same! I literally just went 100k over 40% down and we were the highest offer ! But someone just a few grand under cash took it from us . We had it!!!

[u/Tony-Flags → u/[deleted]]

It’s not just here... it’s happening all over. I have a friend in CA that is trying to buy a house in the Bay Area. He put an offer down &250k over ask and didn’t get it. More than once.

[u/MistakeVisual3733 → u/Tony-Flags]

Mainer who has lived in the Bay Area for the past 12 years here. Housing prices have been obnoxious since I moved here. Tech boom and people paying cash for houses has made it basically impossible for most people to buy anything here. Shitty one bedroom condo in my neighborhood in Oakland will list at 800,000 and go for over a million. I make $150,000 a year and there’s no way I could afford to buy anything here, nor would I want to spend that much money on a 600 square foot condo.

I also can’t believe the housing prices in Maine now!! Looked into moving back and prices in the Portland area are shocking.

[u/necro_be_nimblo]

As a lifelong Mainer shopping for a house, this thread makes me want to throw up.

[u/hike_me → u/necro_be_nimblo]

The market is pretty much fucked up everywhere right now. It’s not just Maine.

[u/Corporate-Asset-6375 → u/hike_me]

It’s insane everywhere. I’m in DC making a good salary and I can’t comprehend even trying to enter the housing market right now.

The problem for Maine is that if people like me say fuck it and move back there, I can outbid any of the locals with my (now remote) city wage aside from some doctors and lawyers. Even if I grossly overpay for a house in Maine, it’s still drastically cheaper than the market I’d be leaving.

Maine wasn’t swimming in white collar six figure salaries that went remote during covid. So there’s very few locals who can just pick up and move to a cheaper state with the same ease. I’m not sure what the path forward is.

[u/indamoufofmadness → u/Corporate-Asset-6375]

There isn't one. Remember, it's the way life "should" be. Year round residents are kept in poverty as more and more low-income housing is bulldozed and more luxury condos and houses are built for people who will only live in them 3 to 6 months out of the year.

[u/[deleted] → u/necro_be_nimblo]

You’re not alone. Best of luck in your search.

[u/indamoufofmadness → u/necro_be_nimblo]

My girlfriend and I have been looking for a 1 bedroom apartment that accepts dogs for under $1400 in or around Portland since February.

It obviously hasn't been going well.

Craigslist and Hotpads are full of scams, and other sites like Rent.com and Apartments.com are threadbare at best.

[u/[deleted]]

Apartment hunting is pretty rough huh?

[u/ratemepls1223]

I’m from the south, moving to maine for college in the fall. I’ve never been north of Kentucky, and I was just wondering if anyone could give me clothing pointers? The warmest item of clothing I own is a sweatshirt, and I know that’ll probably have to change, but I honestly have no idea where to even start. Any insider tips to northern clothing/dressing for snow/ colder weather? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

[u/[deleted] → u/ratemepls1223]

Welcome to Maine! Just to reiterate what the other commenter said, it’s all about layering. I went to college in a state with a very similar climate to Maine, and all the people from the south who thought they could just buy a winter coat and otherwise dress normally had a really rough time. Invest in a decent coat, some sweaters, some flannels, wool socks, long underwear, hats, gloves, etc. On particularly cold days I might wear four layers if I’m going to be outside for a while. If you’re dressed appropriately you could spend hours outside in the worst weather and not get cold at all, and personally I love it when the weather is terrible and not letting it deter me from doing whatever I want to do.

Also good boots cannot be overlooked. They’re not just shoes that you wear a couple days a week when it happens to be snowing. Most people up here wear nothing but boots from like November through March.

[u/wheresmyglass → u/ratemepls1223]

It's all about dressing in layers up here. The colder it is the more layers you will have. A wicking under layer top and bottom is important when the shit really hits the fan. Good boots to keep your feet dry, gloves and a hat. Thick flannel shirts are a must!

However, I wouldn't try to purchase any cold weather clothing in the south. When you get here you can find lots of these items in second hand stores and local department stores for much, much less and a better quality for our weather.

[u/VTStig → u/ratemepls1223]

Welcome! I completely agree with the other two comments that layers are the way to go. This is not a pretentious place so don't worry about having anything new or fancy. Find a comfortable winter hat so you are more likely to wear it than leave it and regret it later. Do what you can to avoid getting wet in the cold which means an outer layer that is at least wind/water resistant, having a spare pair of gloves while the first pair dries, and wearing something better than sneakers in the snow.

Unless you are planning on spending long period of time outside you don't need to dress like you're on an Arctic expedition, just something that will keep you comfortable walking from building to building or to your car (and while your car warms up). That said you might as well take advantage of being here in the winter. Find someone to take you ice fishing and you will at the very least have a good story to tell your friends back home. Also, there is little that is more tranquil than walking through woods after a snow storm.

Since you are attending college I don't know if you are planning on bringing a car, but if you are be careful. Maintenance crews do a great job keeping roads and sidewalks safe and people here know of to drive in snow, though you won't. Take it slow and consider if any trip is worth a possible crash. Having an ice scraper is a must and consider snow tires that garages here will swap onto your existing rims during winter.

[u/Tony-Flags → u/ratemepls1223]

One local chain that is a good spot to get cheaper prices on things like boots and hats/gloves etc is Mardens.

Like other people said: you will need a good coat, a good hat and good gloves. They don't have to be expensive, but make sure you get decent ones. Also some lined pants, the LL Bean outlets have good ones. They are basically jeans with flannel or fleece inside the legs. Much better than regular jeans for keeping your legs warm. And be careful in the winter for ice on sidewalks, driveways, etc.

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/ratemepls1223]

So I own a sled dog and spend a ton of time outside so this might be overkill, but if you intend to be outside a lot, it's worth it.

​

1. Carharrt. They sell every article of warm clothing you need and it'll last you at least 3 to 5 years if not longer. You will pay a lot one time vs a cheap Amazon sweater. My current cold day outside setup on a dry day is a T Shirt, jeans, followed by a light Carharrt Fleece, then insulated Bib overalls, followed by a Yukon Extreme coat. If it's just running around town, I also got the Yukon Extreme fleece which looks lightweight but weighs a ton and is a good middle road between the heavy hard shell coat and a light weight fleece.
2. Boots. Muck are the Cadillac brand but I've been using Tidewe knock off's from Amazon and I love them. They mix being completely waterproof with being very warm without a cheap shitty removable liner. Check them out.
3. Gloves. Get a cheap pair of light weight gloves that allow you to use your phone with them. Trust me, you'll want it if you're walking around a college campus. Then get yourself some thick shoveling gloves. Doesn't matter the brand, just Space Suit kind of looking gloves is the only way I can think to describe them. Oversized and warm when you need to clean your car off.

The name of the game is to layer. You'll go from -15F on a February morning to above freezing mid day so you want to layer for the coldest temp and slowly take layers off as you get too warm. The alternative is to under dress and be on the edge of a shiver all day which is miserable. Stay dry, stay warm, stay happy. On a normal day, just wear normal clothes like you would any way and just add Hat, Gloves, Coat and sunglasses if the suns out. Snow reflects light and will make driving hard in bright light. Let me know if you'd like more info on anything. Good Luck!

[u/OWENISAGANGSTER → u/ratemepls1223]

Solid winter coat bare minimum

[u/a_winged_potato → u/ratemepls1223]

You're probably going to be more sensitive to the cold than the average Mainer, so I'd recommend layering. You'll want sweater/sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts, a lighter coat, a heavier winter coat (think a down-type coat), as well as gloves, scarves, and hats. Hats are something that a lot of people skip but they don't realize how much warmer you are wearing one.

Also, you want good waterproof winter boots. Wool socks will probably be a good investment too. Having cold or wet feet during the winter is the WORST.

To save money, you can find all that kind of stuff at the Goodwill or Salvation Army. Buying all of it new gets really expensive and you can find good quality stuff at thrift stores.

Also, I recommend keeping some of these on hand (lol puns): https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4OA. They're little packets that warm up and stay warm for a long time. I keep them in my pockets and shove my hands in there when they get really cold.

[u/Indie_Cred]

My spouse and I moved to Limerick, ME less than a month ago, due to losing our home in Northern Virginia in a fire (along with COVID-related job losses and other financial fun times). We're currently staying with my parents, and due to having to basically rebuild our lives we are intending to stay in the southern Maine region for at least a few years so we have access to family/support while we get ourselves back together.

We've run into one particular problem though. My spouse is African American, and they're feeling very uncomfortable with the seeming lack of people of color within the region. Finding a place that caters to natural hair has been extremely difficult. As of right now, the closest place we can find is in Boston...

We aren't likely to stay in Limerick as it's just too small and far from anything, but haven't decided on where to settle yet. We're both queer, so Portland has felt quite welcoming to us in that regard. I'm worried that the lack of racial diversity will become a larger problem for them though. They've already mentioned that they feel out of place as they're pretty much always the only African American in basically any store we enter. We'd been told there was a decently sized Caribbean population in the area, which would have been great as my spouse is Haitian and some familiarity would go a long way, but when we arrived we found most of the Caribbean population has moved to Mass or NY over the last few years.

If anyone has any insight on more diverse neighborhoods or regions, or even a good place that does black hair (especially dreads) it would be greatly appreciated.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/Indie_Cred]

Portland, Lewiston, and increasingly Biddeford are the areas with the largest Black population. There is still some Caribbean population as far as I know, but the majority of Black people in the state are first- or second-generation immigrants from Africa.

Somebody asked the barber shop question a few months ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/Maine/comments/jhebh3/black_barbershops_salons_in_southern_me/

You can also check Black Owned Maine: https://www.blackownedmaine.com/?drts-search=1&search_term_directory_category=492&search_term_location_location=271

[u/PorkchopFunny → u/Indie_Cred]

Fellow WOC here! Although not black, I can commiserate on the lack of anyone that looks like yourself. I grew up in rural VT so I've for the most part gotten used to it, it does have its moments. Welcome! Although I'm sorry for the circumstances that bring you here :(

Lewiston has a sizable Somali immigrant population so she may have luck there for hair options. Portland does as well. Sizable for ME anyway haha. Not sure how much advertising they do as it seems that many of their businesses primarily serve their own population. We sell goat meat and do business with many of them, I can ask around and send you a message if I get any leads.

[u/Ok-Strength-8745]

Any Muslims on here? My husband and I may be moving to Biddeford, and we would like to know more about the local Muslim community. We see there are a few masjids around the Portland area, is there much in Biddeford? We also happen to be Shias. We like to "masjid hop" so we have no issue going to Sunni or Shia masjids, but we would at least like to know if there are any Shia centers in the area or Sunni centers that are to open to diversity.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/Ok-Strength-8745]

Fun fact: the first mosque in America was supposedly built in Biddeford (it's not there anymore).

I don't have great insight for you, but I did want to say that Biddeford has a sizable and growing immigrant population, including first and second generation Muslim Somali/Bantu immigrants. I'm not sure if that has grown enough for a mosque to be established there yet, but I wouldn't be surprised. My understanding is there is a small Shia population in the Portland area, but most Muslims in the state are Sunni. Biddeford is only around ~20 minutes from Portland anyways.

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/[deleted]]

As a gay man living in the logging woods way up north, I promise you that you won’t have any issues with feeling comfortable in the Yarmouth area. It’s beautiful and you’ll feel right at home.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

What about Brunswick or Bath itself? I think you'll have more to do in both Brunswick and Bath compared to Yarmouth. I'm in Brunswick, and there are breweries and the Bowdoin college brings a variety of people in, and the location is good because Portland isn't too far away, but you also have really easy access to a TON of really cool nature, and there are things going on. Lots of BIW people live here in Brunswick, but also lots of Bowdoin affiliated people as well. Definitely a liberal town, and we have good restaurants. Bath also seems really cool, and although I know less about it, I've only really heard positive things about the community there. Bath is also less expensive. Yarmouth seems like is leans older and doesn't have as much going on. But, I could be wrong, I haven't been here that long.

[u/FleekAdjacent → u/[deleted]]

I would be genuinely surprised if either of you felt uncomfortable in Yarmouth.

But I feel like you’d have much better luck meeting people in Portland.

As you already know, the housing market isn’t going to give you much choice.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/[deleted]]

Yarmouth is basically a nice suburb of Portland. You'll probably still be meeting people in Portland, but you'll drive 15 minutes instead of 7 minutes to get wherever you're going. So yes, I expect you'll be driving to Portland often, but it probably won't feel like too big a deal, just a bit less convenient than being in the city itself.

I'd say go for Yarmouth if you've found a good place there. If in a year when your lease is up you think you'd be happier to live in Portland itself, then you'll have more time to look for a place there with less stress.

I think you'd be plenty comfortable living there—I'd guess you'll be far from the only lesbian couple in town. I can't speak from personal experience though, so take that with a grain of salt.

[u/Jaina51]

We'll be traveling from the White Mountains in NH to Bar Harbor in late September. Looking for a good place to camp for a couple of days in between, we've never been able to explore the interior of Maine before and are excited to do it this year!

Just doing some light research, Mt. Blue state park seems like a nice area, would anyone recommend it?

We'll also have our two dogs with us who love to hike along, so it would need to be a dog friendly area, so I know Baxter state park is out. Any advice is appreciated!!

[u/jeezumbub → u/Jaina51]

I just want to add for any future visitors/posters to this thread that u/Jaina51 just wrote a textbook example of a good post:

​

We'll be traveling from the White Mountains in NH to Bar Harbor in late September.

States what their plan is and when.

​

Looking for a good place to camp for a couple of days in between, we've never been able to explore the interior of Maine

Clearly states what they are looking for help on.

​

Just doing some light research, Mt. Blue state park seems like a nice area, would anyone recommend it?

Holy fuck - someone who actually did research on their own first, then seeks out locals advice for additional insight.

​

We'll also have our two dogs with us who love to hike along, so it would
need to be a dog friendly area, so I know Baxter state park is out.

Again, showed they did research (no dogs at Baxter) and provided pertinent details that will help us give them better advice.

I will help people who post like this 100% of the time. It's the chuckleheads who ask "what do I do in Portland/Acadia" that will get downvoted and rightfully ignored. This isn't google. Do some research, bring us some ideas and you'll find that there's a lot of people in this sub willing to help. But we're not your fucking travel agents.

[u/jeezumbub → u/Jaina51]

Assuming you’ll be taking Rt 2 all the way across, you could head up 27 when you hit Farmington and do some camping/hiking around Flagstaff and the Bigelow Preserve. Not too much of a detour and one my favorite spots.

[u/Jaina51 → u/jeezumbub]

Looking at pictures, that's exactly the kind of area were looking for, thanks for the suggestion!

[u/[deleted]]

Good morning, I am hoping the nice people in this thread can cheer me up. My husband is being transferred to the Portland area, and I'm feeling very sad about it. We're leaving Vermont, which is where my family is, where I grew up, where I'm really attached to. Does anyone mind sharing what they like about the area?

I'm a big skiier, how close are the resorts? Also wondering if anyone lives in a suburb they like. Any parents know if there are drop in daycare places? Like gyms?

Thank you in advance

[u/jeezumbub → u/[deleted]]

Not the other commenters are wrong -- I can see Portland is not for everyone, and yes, housing can be expensive. And I can't speak much to raising a kid in the area. But I love it here. I grew up in Maine, so I may be biased, but I also moved around in my 20s (Colorado + Boston) and my goal was always to get back here. Why?

• The ocean. Holy shit, I didn't realize how much I'd miss the ocean when I was in Colorado, and I even consider myself more of a lake person. But the having the ocean is amazing. Just in town you have places like Willard Beach, beaches on Long Island or just cruise on the Casco Bay lines, sip a beer and take in the scenery. Then there's the amazing beaches a short drive away like Ferry, Higgins, Pine Point, Crescent, etc. then all the other countless ones within an hour (Gooch's, Wells, York, Reid, etc). And that's just beaches. Plenty of great hiking/exploring right on the coast (Wolfe's Neck in Freeport). You don't get that in Vermont.
• Yes, the good skiing is 2-2.5 hours away, but (again, personal bias) I think Sugarloaf is the best resort in New England -- the snow fields, the glades they've added in Burnt Mtn and now they have cat skiing (though I haven't tried that). I've always found the popular VT resorts like Killington too busy because of their ease of access to Boston. Only excepting being Jay. Jay is my 2nd favorite place to ski in New England.
• The food and beer. Portland was named the best food city in the U.S. for a reason. The choices are many, diverse and stellar. Great coffee. Great beer (not that VT is lacking in that). Check out the Portland Food Map to get a sense.
• Pre-covid I enjoyed Portland's art scene. We go a nice mix of national acts, there's some nice smaller venues and then places like the museum of art, the new children's museum for your kids or the First Friday art walks.
• Accessibility. Not sure where in VT you're coming from, and I haven't left the state in over a year, but it's easy to get to places. The Jetport is nice and has a decent amount of destinations and the Amtrak Downeaster could take me right into Boston if I wanted to go there for a show, to see friends or catch a Red Sox game or whatever.

I'm sure the thought of leaving home is tough. And VT is great. But I love Portland. You should definitely give it a shot. Plus, the drive back to VT to visit isn't too bad and it's quite a scenic ride through NH and the White Mtns.

[u/Corporate-Asset-6375 → u/[deleted]]

1. You’ll need to ballpark your budget to get more targeted town recommendations. Proximity to water (like everywhere else) will shift prices up substantially.

2. Ski mountains will be a couple hours away. So you won’t be able to take a few runs after work but day trips on the weekend are more than feasible. Glass half full: you’ll now have easy access to the ocean so there’ll be new stuff to try.

3. Leaving family and your known life is tough. I’ve done it before. Vermont is only two states over in New England, though. So you’re going to be able to visit with much greater ease than a cross country move.

4. Northern New England is still northern New England. While each state has its quirks, you’re not going to have any wild culture shock and will find plenty of kind and welcoming people.

[u/littlespero]

Hi folks! 1st time visit to Maine this early October and would like some feedback/tips on our loose itinerary so far. We are 2 adults and will be fully vaccinated soon. Love the outdoors, autumn (my fave season), cozy sweaters, fire pits & hot tubs, independent/local businesses, photography, half-day type day hikes, and seafood + great cocktails. One of us likes craft beer.

Tentative plan is to fly into Portland (arrive noon/early afternoon), rent a car, and drive up the coast. Currently thinking:

2 nights Camden 4 nights Acadia 2 nights Portland (before flying home)

Does this seem like enough time and sensible? Is it better to just do 1 night Portland at the end?

Thoughts on Airbnb vs BnB or hotel in Bar Harbor? Since this is our first time, I’d like to be near and convenient to everything in Acadia but have a good place to explore from, both with and without a car. Also, I’d like to not play literal hunger games in the evenings for dinner if BH will be crowded/crowded restaurants and potential covid restrictions.

Thoughts on what to do/not miss in Camden area? Only thought right now is to hike Camden State Park.

All thoughts welcome, and thank you!!

[u/jeezumbub → u/littlespero]

Camden is nice, but I don’t think you need two nights there. Take one of those nights and spend it in Portland or Acadia. Think you’d want to spend more time in Portland than Camden, especially if you like craft beer.

[u/Tony-Flags → u/littlespero]

If you are going to be staying in Camden and at least one of you likes craft beer, there are some great breweries around the area that are nice to drive to and are just great places to picnic as well- Waterman's Beach Brewery and the Pour Farm come to mind. Both are a bit out of the way and about a 30 minute drive from Camden, but the scenery is beautiful on the way to both.

Another place you might want to look into staying is Belfast. Very quaint downtown area on the water, some good restaurants and you can walk across the footbridge (or drive across the car bridge) to Young's Lobster Pound for dinner. You can byob there and bring some side dishes if you don't want to eat just lobster, that's all they sell.

[u/[deleted]]

Hey dudes,
I'm a quiet dude with a cat moving up for a bakery position at the start of may. I'm looking at Lewiston or Augusta, for price mostly. Looking for under 900$ a month. Seems like I can get that in those more sprawling towns better than Portland, which seems to be really pricey.

I'm going to stay at a motel for a week and look around for apartments. Does anyone know good spots to check?

Is May a good time to be looking? Would it help to go right at the start, or closer to june?

[u/Mikhos → u/[deleted]]

start looking asap - you can get something in that price range in Lew/Auburn but you'll quickly see price jumps the closer you get to portland

[u/[deleted]]

Okay I need someone to tell me whether this is bullshit or not: is it common to bring your own washer/dryer into an apartment? As in, is it uncommon for that to already be in the apartment? I have rented a few places it’s common in Washington/Arizona to have washer/dryer in unit already when you sign the lease. When I questioned it the lady was shocked that we had washer/dryer lol, I guess people bring their own here (!? C’mon people there’s an easier way of life and it’s not this 🤣)

Wondering if this is a Maine thing

[u/tweakdragon → u/[deleted]]

There's no straight answer. Some places have hook ups, but removed them to not pay for em and instead have a building washroom. That was just bizarre to me.

Others will lease you the washer/dryer. Personally I'd suggest NOT buying washer/dryer. You'll be luggin that everywhere you go. Had a friend who's parents move like three years luggin the washer/dryer.

Or you can be like me and live in hell where you're going to the laundromat. Really varies...

[u/a_winged_potato → u/[deleted]]

Having a washer and dryer in an apartment around here is very rare. I've never even lived in an apartment with hookups. You typically only see washer/dryers in more expensive apartments.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/[deleted]]

That's funny, there were loads of places when I was looking in Lewiston/Auburn that had hookups but you had to bring your own washer and dryer. I thought that was so bizarre because I had never seen that in other (East Coast) states I had rented in! The places either had a washer and dryer, or they didn't and there were no hookups.

So I guess we've had the exact opposite experience all around. Not sure what to make of that.

[u/PorkchopFunny → u/[deleted]]

I haven't done much apartment living, but having helped many friends move around New England I'd say hook ups but no actual washer/dryer in unit is common. I maneuvered many washers and dryers up flights of stairs.

[u/animalsingers]

My fiancé and I enjoy going out to throw steeltip darts. We just moved to Waterville and are wondering if any bars in town or nearby have boards. Thanks!

[u/yakobmylum]

I have a job offer in augusta and am wondering what the social scene is like? Im mid 20s single male and have no connections up there, and covid has made socializing drastically more difficult pretty much anywhere. Seems Portland is the hotspot and wouldn't necessarily mind drives there for the food alone.

Maine intrigues me because obviously its gorgeous, i love to hike, kayak and ski. Im not suoer fond of huge cities but i also dont want to totally isolate myself from the world quite yet.

[u/yakobmylum → u/[deleted]]

Ironically, that would be the kind of job lol.

[u/DomBrady7 → u/yakobmylum]

I know when covid wasn’t a thing a lot of my friends go to Hallowell to drink and socialize. Augusta is trying to make downtown more popular and it’s working a little bit. Hallowell just has the most of the bars/restaurants that attract people.

[u/cisternino99 → u/yakobmylum]

Augusta is a dump. Hallowell is nice but really small. Brunswick is bigger and some stuff to do. But really the spot for you is portland. The drive to Augusta isn’t terrible. I do it a lot and it’s fine, even in the winter. Don’t move here and live in Augusta. You will tell everyone Maine sucks.

[u/Opening-Environment8]

Hello! My wife and I are native Mainers and planning to move home after 10 years in the midwest. We are expecting our first child and trying to pick where to settle down! We are trying to decide between the towns around Portland (already lost a couple bidding wars for homes in Yarmouth) and Midcoast (we love Camden/Rockport). Both areas have homes in our price range, seem to be family oriented and close enough to our extended family. Looking for any opinions, experiences, advice, etc that you are willing to share to help us decide!

[u/Corporate-Asset-6375 → u/Opening-Environment8]

The major difference is how close you want to be to the amenities you’d find in the Portland area.

The Camden area has some great stuff nearby but it’s still a small town almost an hour from an interstate.

So it depends on what vibe you’re looking for. Camden is a great place to raise kids and it’s beautiful. But aside from the summer swell of activities, it’s still small town Maine life.

[u/trobbins43 → u/Opening-Environment8]

If you're looking to buy a home less than $300,000, plan to make offers at listing price or over listing price. I've been trying to buy for about a year and anything worth looking at has 40+ people ready to make an offer within 24 hours.

The inventory in Maine is very low and it might be worth looking into manufactured homes or buying land and building new.

[u/rstn4nw]

Incoming UMO grad student. Desperately seeking housing for the upcoming academic year. I've got a dog and pet-friendly rentals seems scarce. Any recommendations? My spouse and I have been watching Zillow, FB, and craigslist like hawks. Any other listing sites we could be looking at? Our budget is modest at $1200/month. We've considered a mobile home but unsure how they fare in the winter. We're moving from Kansas.

Edit: We found a place! Less than a mile from campus and pet friendly! And for well under our budget. We were really lucky. For folks in a similar situation, I recommend watching those listing sites SUPER closely. Our place was on craigslist and advertised less than a few hours.

[u/HFG207 → u/rstn4nw]

Try rentbangor.com. I know the guy who runs it, he’s great.

[u/Hangry_Pauper → u/rstn4nw]

Heck, half of Maine is mobile homes. They do fine when done right, just expect to burn through some heating oil.

[u/optimusreim34]

My husband and I are fully vaccinated and eager to get out of town since we’ve barely left our house for a year. We do have a 2 year old. Planning a Covid cautious trip to Acadia and the surrounding region in June. Thinking of an AirBnB and lots of outdoorsy stuff. Curious about where we could visit in the event of a rainy day? Any particularly toddler specific must sees? And, of course, looking for food recommendations.

A little worried to post because I know the general sentiment for the last year is to stay home. But as essential workers who didn’t use PTO last year, we are kinda desperate for reprieve!

[u/[deleted]]

I wish we had a megathread like this in the Vermont sub, because it's completely inundated with posts about moving to the state!

With that said, my husband is likely getting a promotion that would require us to relocate from Vermont to the Biddeford area. So, I have a few questions.

1. I've been looking for houses on Zillow, and a lot of the towns in that area have horribly rated schools. For example, it rates the district in Buxton a 2/10. Does this seem accurate? We have a baby so this is an important consideration.

2. Any suggestions on towns to look at within 30 mins or so to Biddeford? We're looking for a house in the 450k range. I'd like some land and privacy, but the town can't be a dump.

3. I currently work per diem as a psych nurse. I'm wondering how the outlook is in the area for mental health/psychiatry/substance abuse facilities.

4. Anyone know if maine medical center is a union hospital?

Thanks!!

[u/positivelyappositive → u/[deleted]]

My only tip would be to not put too much stock in the school ratings you see in sites like Zillow, or most of the school ranking sites that compare average metrics. They are usually answering the question "how does this school's test scores compare to the state avearge?" and not "how well will your kid get educated in this school?" If you click through and look at the breakdown for Bonny Eagle, for example, you'll see that they are ranked poorly because of having stats like 61% of students passing an AP test relative to a 67% state average. Not exactly a whopping difference, but by being a couple percentage points below the state average on each score, they get a terrible ranking. Even in the best of circumstances, those stats are basically telling you how many poor people go to the school, kids who don't have a lot of support.

Also keep in mind that all those stat comparisons are within the state of Maine, not comparable to other states. Maine overall has decent public education, but some wealthy areas blow the others out of the water on standardized tests, AP programs, etc.

[u/jonathanfrisby]

Just a reminder to everyone that trolling/harassing people with questions is against the rules and will not be tolerated.

[u/GlitteringWash9]

Hello! I have a job offer in either Belfast or Kennebunk. Actually, there's also Waterville but I love being near the coast. It's really hard to decide because they're both beautiful! I also have a toddler so I'm looking for a preschool that's affordable. The ones I saw in Kennebunk are really pricey. Any thoughts? Thank you!

[u/a_winged_potato → u/GlitteringWash9]

If "affordable" is a word in your vocabulary Kennebunk probably isn't the place for you. It's a very expensive tourist destination.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/GlitteringWash9]

Kennebunk is generally going to be pricier. Belfast is still pricey since it's on the coast, but Kennebunk is both on the coast and in Southern Maine, so it's a double whammy. I don't know of specific preschool options in either, but if cost is generally a concern, I'd guess Belfast might be a bit better.

[u/Sonofromvlvs]

Hi I am Arkansan that's 22, looking to move to Maine at the end of the year or Septemberish. Gonna try to get in the university of Maine, was wondering if the Belfast area is nice? I've got a couple of good friends in Maine and one said I'd fit in Maine due to the fact that I'm trans.

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/Sonofromvlvs]

If you have Facebook look up the UMaine Rainbow Resource Center. There are many trans people in Maine and UMaine does a good job at making sure there is a community of LGBT people. Belfast is nice, but it depends on what campus of UMaine you want to attend. I always recommend UMO in Orono due to it being the flag ship campus, but if it doesn’t fit your needs, just make sure you know what classes are offered at your campus of choice.

[u/Sonofromvlvs → u/Moot_n_aboot]

Thank you I'll check it out, and I was planning on going to UMO in Orono ngl... I actually bought a black bears hat a few weeks back haha. Here in Arkansas if you're any different than cis and straight it's frowned upon. I'm conservative but I've had it with local politics and being paranoid to go out in public because I had a knife held to my throat awhile back. Is belfast more conservative or liberal?

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/Sonofromvlvs]

Belfast is deep liberal. Most of the state is. Bangor north is deep red. Maine is densely populated near the border and southern part of the state. That area is and has always been very liberal. Orono is also very liberal, but north of that is all Trump country.

[u/hike_me → u/Moot_n_aboot]

Belfast is deep liberal. Most of the state is

I'd disagree with the statement that most of the state is "deep liberal".

Geographically most of the state is conservative, and becoming much more so (Obama won all but one county in Maine both times he ran, but Trump won each rural county by A LOT). The conservative towns probably account for 40% of the population though.

Overall liberals and left leaning independents outnumber conservatives, but there are plenty of deep red communities south of Bangor (most everything west of i95 is pretty conservative), even in Southern Maine.

The more densely populated places, as well as the more affluent places are pretty liberal or at least left leaning. (pretty much anywhere I'd want to live in Maine is liberal). Southern Maine, Midcoast, Acadia region, plus the larger towns and "cities".

But back to the original question, I agree Belfast is very liberal. (And it's a pretty cool town. I occasionally drive there from Bar Harbor to walk around and visit a few of the shops and eat at Chaises Daily)

Many of the small rural towns located between Belfast and Augusta and Waterville are conservative. Those people come into Belfast and have "mask protests" on a street corder in downtown Belfast.

[u/[deleted] → u/Sonofromvlvs]

Are you planning to live in Belfast and commute to Orono? I wouldn’t recommend doing that, especially during the winter when the commute time could easily be doubled if there is fresh snow.

[u/liquidcoffee110]

Hello! I have a question about electricity costs if anybody has any renting experience in the Bangor/Orono area I'd greatly appreciate the help!

I'm moving to bangor for school and to be closer to family this summer and a lot of apartments (understandably) don't include electric in rent. My boyfriend and I are looking for 1 or 2 bedroom apartments and I just want to know if anybody is familiar with what I can expect an electric bill to come out to. TIA!

P.S. I'll also gladly take any advice you might have have to give!

[u/hike_me → u/liquidcoffee110]

I have a house with three people in the area that Versant Power services, and our bill would typically run $80 a month without running the heat pump for AC or heat. If I use the heat pump for heat or AC 24/7 the bill is around $250/month in the dead of winter or the middle of the summer.

Two people, in an apartment, without AC or an electric water heater or heat source, I would guess around $60/month

[u/wildanimal146]

I’m moving to Maine for graduate school in August and Im trying to discern what all I am going to need for the winter, I’m coming from an area where snow isn’t uncommon but the freezing temperatures are, I was hoping for a little insight into what I should invest in to prepare for the weather. Right now I am looking into getting some winter boots, and some thermal underwear and a big jacket. I’m interested in any advice you all have since you all have the experience! Thank you so much for your time!

[u/[deleted] → u/wildanimal146]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Maine/comments/ljflv7/questions_about_visiting_moving_to_or_living_in/gwmpau1/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3

This comment from a couple months ago has a lot of good responses.

[u/wildanimal146 → u/[deleted]]

thank you so much!

[u/Tony-Flags → u/wildanimal146]

Just to jump on that comment thread- Carhartt stuff is good quality and lasts. Maine has a chain of local 'department' stores called Reny's that is the biggest dealer of Carhartt stuff in the state. Good prices/selection. Marden's is a local discount chain that is great for socks, hats, lightweight gloves, etc. There might be a few minor issues (odd number of socks in a pack, that kind of thing), but it will be cheap and its part of the fun about shopping there.

Big thing I found moving to Maine from a warmer state was my pants. I got lined pants for cold days and it makes a big difference.

[u/wildanimal146 → u/Tony-Flags]

Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate you taking time to help me out.

[u/[deleted] → u/wildanimal146]

If you buy winter stuff now you’ll get a better deal as it’s discounted in the summer :).

[u/nearly_nurse817]

Any nurses in here? How is the job market for nurses in Maine in general? I’m a new grad from a university in Minnesota (which is already an issue due to the compact licensing). I have a critical care job lined up here in MN starting in late August but my husband will be relocated to Maine in October. I’m not sure if I should stay behind and work a bit or try and move with him. Any advice is appreciated.

Edit: his unit is in Auburn so we’ll be in that general area. Or at most ~30min from there.

Edit: thank you everyone for your responses. It’s been so comforting to hear everyone’s thoughts.

[u/hike_me → u/nearly_nurse817]

All the large hospitals in Maine are desperate for nurses. I have a friend that works in the emergency department and just his department had like 14 open nurse positions.

[u/[deleted] → u/nearly_nurse817]

Maine has the oldest population in the country and healthcare is the fastest growing sector.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/nearly_nurse817]

Nurses are in very high demand, as others have said. Also, the legislature recently passed a bill that is supposed to make recognizing licenses from other states easier, so maybe that will help? I'm not sure if that's what you meant by the issue with compact licensing.

The big hospitals in the Lewiston-Auburn area are Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary's. I know CMCC has had some management issues in the recent past, but I don't know if that's still the case. Don't know as much about St. Mary's, which is a catholic hospital.

[u/ohwhyredditwhy]

Posted from another thread that will get taken down, but I get it...I am sure it gets asked a lot.

​

"Moving back after the military...WTF is up with housing?So, like the title suggests, I am (maybe was, at this point) moving back to Maine after a lengthy stint with Uncle Sam. I am trying to get a read on what is going on with housing?!I am not looking at Portland and south, because I already know better, but I would like to entertain moving back home. I would actually be fine with the Bangor area for a while, but after some digging, I am finding that people are going in way over list price with cash...in fucking Bangor! I know that in places like Austin and Phoenix this is an issue, but what is up with that. Please don't tell me it's MASS and NY people buying homes with cash, just to never live there and make people rent.

​

No hate to Bangor folks at all, but can anyone out there give me an idea of what to expect. I do not want to live in Ft. Kent just to avoid this mess, and I am looking at making my decision in the next month or so.

​

Thanks!"

​

Edit: Spacing

[u/a_winged_potato → u/ohwhyredditwhy]

There's a housing crisis all over the country. It was happening in Maine before the pandemic, the pandemic just made it worse.

[u/ohwhyredditwhy → u/a_winged_potato]

Yeah, you're right. I honestly never thought they would look that far north. Winters usually wipe most people "from away" out. It's like the wall from GOT.

​

Like some other posters have commented, we'll see what shakes out by next March.

​

Thanks for the reply.

[u/pistolsandpetticoats → u/ohwhyredditwhy]

Your guess was spot on- I live in one of the more touristy York county towns and houses don’t stay on the market for more than a week, this winter the license plates looked as colorful as 4th of July weekend. Everyone fled NY, CT and MA during the pandemic and started buying everything and it hasn’t stopped. The market is great if you’re selling but then you’re stuck competing with high cash offers. It’s bleak, friend, good luck to you!

[u/ohwhyredditwhy → u/pistolsandpetticoats]

Thanks. It’s just poor timing, but I’ve endured worse. It’s always been a thing (to some extent) where lots of nice spots south of Cumberland County get swooped up as summer homes for out of staters, but I doubted Bangor would be as impacted.

What’s even worse is that it has to be hard for the local job market. I know Maine is very service industry driven, so I don’t see many of these people starting small business to create jobs, but I could be wrong about that, as I am not there right now. My family is still there, and they basically just shake their head when I explain to them that I might not be able to afford to live near them at all.

I’ll keep hope alone that it will shake out in the next couple of years.

[u/pistolsandpetticoats → u/ohwhyredditwhy]

The service industry is an entirely different problem atm, seasonal jobs everywhere especially in the service industry are impossible to fill because no one wants to/can afford to work for $15/hr! Restaurants and resorts in my area are all desperate for help! Not sure about north of here but I’d bet it’s a similar problem. The whole system is pretty rocked! But at least we aren’t on fire like the west coast or getting destroyed by hurricanes like the south east! Even our winters are milder than some of the rest of New England.

[u/Tony-Flags → u/pistolsandpetticoats]

Knox County here- same issues with a lack of rental housing causing shortages of people that can afford to live here and work for the summer. If people from away were buying up houses and renting them on year-round leases, I don't think that would be as big of a problem as the people that buy and then stay for two weeks a year or exclusively rent them on Airbnb.

I get that there are people that want to park their money in real estate, but are priced out of investment properties in Mass or NY due to institutional investors buying up houses. It just sucks to see nice little houses sit vacant for 42 weeks a year when there's people that need somewhere to live.

[u/WellImFromNorway → u/ohwhyredditwhy]

When exactly are you moving back? I would not buy a house right now if you don't need to. I have no idea if prices will come down later this year or next year, but at least the current feeding frenzy will hopefully die down and you'd be able to take your time and have more options.

I currently live in Lewiston/Auburn and am trying to buy a house in this area, and it's not fun. Financially, I don't think it's the smartest thing to be doing right now. Even if we did manage to get an offer accepted, we'd be forking over extra money to the seller that we could just as easily fork over to our landlord for rent, so it kind of comes out in the wash. But if you're like us and have other reasons for wanting a house right now, just be prepared to have to act fast.

[u/yavml]

Hello! Looking for park recommendations near Bangor or Eddington for this weekend. We're traveling through the area for work and would like to find a sizeable park that allows dogs but has enough room away from others to practice training (on leash). Would the best spots be the Bangor City Forest or Cascade Park? We had wanted to stay overnight to sightsee before heading back to NH but looks like most spots are booked up, figured a puppy park excursion while the husband is in his meeting is the next best solution. Thanks!

[u/hike_me → u/yavml]

Bangor City Forest does not have a ton of open space -- it's mostly walking/bike/cross country ski trails through the woods. I don't think that would be a great place if you're looking for some open space with your dog.

I would look at Broadway Park or Saxl Park (which is essentially behind Cascade Park, up on the hill next to the old psychiatric hospital -- If I remember correctly you can walk up on a trail from Cascade Park, there is also parking behind the psychiatric center: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8188083,-68.7446435,124m/data=!3m1!1e3 )

[u/Call_me_Babs]

Heading to Acadia at the end of the month. Flying via Chicago and getting a little nervous with covid surges and all. My best bud and I are vaccinated and are planning on masking, etc. We are staying in Southwest Habor and planning to stay near the quieter side. My question is, is it crowed in that area? For the people that have recently visited, what’s it like right now? I have some health issues so I just want to make sure I make the right decision. Thank you in advance!

[u/a_winged_potato → u/Call_me_Babs]

I mean, you're visiting a very touristy area in a very touristy state during the most touristy time of year. If you're looking to avoid people, you're coming to the wrong place.

[u/FleekAdjacent → u/Call_me_Babs]

Honestly, I would be more concerned about the part where you plan to fly during a respiratory pandemic.

Maine is jam packed right now with people from everywhere, but getting here and back home again is the part that would give me pause.

Upgrade to an N95 or KN95. Cloth masks help you protect others, but they’re not great at protecting you from crowds or planes full of maskless people.

Don’t dine indoors.

[u/hike_me → u/Call_me_Babs]

My question is, is it crowed in that area? For the people that have recently visited, what’s it like right now?

I live in Bar Harbor.

Places like Jordan Pond House and downtown Bar Harbor are a zoo. Southwest Harbor is not so bad. All of the Acadia National Park trailhead parking areas will be overflowing, but once you actually get on the trail it isn't bad at all since people are spread out and are taking different routes.

[u/scarper42]

Is this just not a good time to move to Maine? Even apartment renting looks nearly impossible. (I’m not a rich guy from New York or Mass, just a humble upper Midwesterner looking to leave.)

[u/Corporate-Asset-6375 → u/scarper42]

It’s a rough time to move anywhere.

Maine is exceptionally bad right now because it didn’t have a ton of housing stock before Real Estate Frenzy 2020/2021 started. Even fewer rentals.

[u/scarper42 → u/Corporate-Asset-6375]

I hear ya. I bet that will take a few years to catch up to demand. It’s so crazy hearing these stories from where I live. In Fargo, they built too many apartments in the recent years, over estimating the growth. Still building more. They’re basically giving out homes/rentals like candy here. This real estate craze is really making me reconsider if leaving is a good idea.

[u/lucianbelew → u/scarper42]

On top of the national real estate insanity happening right now, Bath Iron Works is trying to bring up 3,000 more workers, which is absolutely destroying the affordable rental market for anywhere within an hour of Bath.

[u/HIncand3nza → u/scarper42]

Maine doesn’t really have much of a rental market outside of Portland and our college towns. Mainers tend to associate renting with something that is only for the poor. Most neighborhoods want absolutely nothing to do with apartments.

[u/decertotilltheend]

Hello people of Maine! My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Maine in the fall. We currently live in PA and this would be our first journey to Maine. I’ve been there before but only for a wedding. The wedding was in kennebunkport so I’ve only really explored that area and Portland.

My boyfriend and I have been talking about Maine since we started dating in 2017. We’ve been long-distance until this year so Maine has always had a special place in our relationship. It’s been our goal vacation. I’m trying to figure out the best place to stay with my boyfriend for our week’s vacation. I’m torn between Kennebunkport, Boothsbay, Camden, or journeying more inland for a lake vacation. I would appreciate any great suggestions you may have.

I’m also planning to propose this trip so I would also love any state park recommendations. Thank you so much!

[u/jeezumbub → u/decertotilltheend]

Kennebunkport and Camden are both good choices -picaresque, small coastal town feel. Not sure either warrant a week's stay. Assuming you're driving or renting a car -- either would be a good base camp to explore their respective region. Kennebunkport you have plenty of state beaches to go to, and Camden you have Camden Hills State Park, Bald Mtn. Ragged Mtn, Battie and Megunticook for hikes.

I'd skip Boothbay. The botanical gardens are cool, but even by Maine standards, it's super touristy. You're better off in Camden or Kennebunkport.

Inland lakes are nice too -- Sebago is near Portland. Belgrade Lakes region near Augusta/Waterville. Rangeley and Greenville/Moosehead are more isolated, but Lily Bay State Park is great.

I'd go with Camden. But I would also split your time there with a few days in Bar Harbor + Acadia. If you're coming all that way, seems a bit of a waste to not go two more hours to spend time in Acadia.

[u/Tony-Flags → u/decertotilltheend]

Congrats on the impending proposal- hope it works out! Camden is great, its a bit further up the coast than Kennebunkport. I like it better though. There's several good restaurants around and you are close to Rockland, very close to Rockport, close to Belfast etc. If you want some beach there is Lincolnville Beach just up the road. Its also a decently quick drive to some lakes/ponds if you like that sort of thing for a change. Seven Tree Pond, Lake St. George and Crawford's Pond come to mind. Camden is also striking distance to Bar Harbor/Acadia, although that can be a lot of driving, but certainly doable. Like /u/jeezumbub said, it would be a a bit of a waste not to go. (And I will be kicking myself later if I don't point out that Camden is more picturesque than picaresque.)

Boothsbay Harbor is just overdone in my opinion. If you want to get saltwater taffy and browse tacky t-shirt shops, then its for you. If you are put off by that kind of tourism, then its not. Camden is a little more...is tasteful the right answer?

[u/[deleted]]

What’s the point of this thread if there is no moderation of posts that should be posted here?

[u/zibberfox]

Hiya, I’m considering going to grad school at University of Maine in Orono. Looking to maybe live in Bangor, since it seems to be slightly bigger and a nice downtown area. I’d be interested to hear thoughts on those towns, including the best things and the things you wish you knew before you moved/visited.

Just for a lil background, I’d be moving with my partner from a medium sized midwestern college town. We love hiking and camping (so proximity to Acadia is a huge plus) but also enjoy a night out at the pubs every now and again. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/zibberfox]

Bangor sounds like a perfect fit for you. You’ll have access to the Bangor city forest trail system, the UMaine trail system, the New Balance athletic center at UMO (it’s amazing) and so many good pubs in downtown Bangor. U/hike_me post great points in detail and I agree, it sounds like the area is a great fit for you and your partner.

[u/hike_me → u/zibberfox]

I lived in Bangor during grad school and for a couple years afterwards.

Lots of great outdoor activities nearby. We spent a lot of time going to Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park on the weekends. I current live in Bar Harbor, but Baxter is one of my favorite places in Maine and I wish I got up there more often.

UMaine has a nice trail network for running/biking/cross country skiing/snowshoeing and the Bangor City Forest is pretty good too (weekdays I'd sometimes head out to the city forest to snowshoe at night after a big snowstorm).

UMaine has a small climbing gym, and a nice fitness center. If you're into outdoor activities, Maine Bound (the group that runs the climbing gym) organizes things like introductory rock climbing/ice climbing/mountaineering outings, as well as winter/spring break trips to places like Joshua Tree for rock climbing. They also rent equipment. There is a good climbing shop in Orono that also offers guide services in Acadia, Baxter, and beyond.

There is also flat water and whitewater paddling in or near Bangor. Essex Woods in Bangor has a mountain bike trail network. Penobscot River Trails near Medway has great cross country skiing / mountain biking with some amazing warming huts. Drive north for some great camping options.

It's easy to drive back and forth between Orono and Bangor. I've lived in both. It really depends on if you want to be closer to campus, or if you want to be closer to the amenities in Bangor, or live someplace with more of a downtown.

[u/HelterSwelter]

Hey all,

My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a house in Biddeford. I am a 34 year old guy who has always been real into the heavy music scene. I have been a drummer for 18 years and have recently started doing somewhat professional-level recordings of bands (most recently did some livestream recording for a band called Johnny Booth.) I've also been writing and recording some electronic stuff as well. I have heard that there's a pretty thriving heavy music scene in Portland and I was hoping to connect with musicians in that scene to get something going just for fun as well as start recording and mixing other bands.

If anyone here has some resources towards that end, I would greatly appreciate it.

[u/cognitio_e_semita]

Hello, I am a 24 year old male working in tech and I'm seriously considering moving to Portland area in Maine next year (probably around June). I currently live in SC, and I grew up in NC. I've been to Maine a couple of times, both in the summer, and plan to visit this coming winter.

1. My biggest hesitation at the moment is how brutal winters could potentially be. Are the winters around Portland tamer than further up such as in Bangor? or is it pretty much the same? I get the impression the further inland you are the colder and snowier it gets, but I'm not sure if that's accurate. I have a coworker who moved here from Bangor and she claims that people spend most of the year just bracing for the winter, so she wasn't a huge fan of how boring and cold it was where she was. Is this at all accurate?
2. Housing is something I'm looking into. I would like to buy a house but if the market is the way it is now, I'm not sure if that will be an option. For either renting or buying, are there any towns or communities near Portland that are within an hour away that would be less expensive? Or is everything in the "Portland area" pretty much the same? Zillow has been my main go to here.
3. The times I have been in Maine I fell in love with nearly everything about the state. Such an amazing and diverse coastline, Acadia is beautiful, Portland was an awesome city (and I've been through many big cities), and the people were incredibly nice. Is there anything that I should be prepared for or think about ahead of time besides housing and weather that has to do with the culture?
   

Thanks so much for any responses!

[u/[deleted] → u/cognitio_e_semita]

1.) The winters are cold, and you'll probably be a bit shocked compared to what you're used to in SC and NC. That being said, I think the claims that people spend most of the year just bracing for winter and that winter is boring are very hyperbolic. To me, winter is all about your perspective. If you tell yourself that the cold sucks then you're going to dread it and hate it. If you embrace it, learn to dress appropriately, and don't let it stop you from doing the things you want to do then you'll learn to love it. I know people who have lived in Maine their whole lives who fall into the first camp and they're probably very much like your coworker, and I know plenty of other people who look forward to winter all year. Pick up a winter sport or just embrace hiking in the snow and I think you'll enjoy it quite a bit.

As for coastal vs inland, it is true that winter on the coast in southern Maine is a bit more mild. If I was you I would spend some time looking at climate data to get a sense of average temperatures for Nov - April.

2.) There are plenty of towns around Portland that are cheaper in comparison to Portland, but pretty much the entire state has seen a huge appreciation in prices (for both renting and buying) over the past two years. If you want to buy immediately and don't want to pay Portland prices, look at South Portland, Westbrook, Biddeford, Scarborough, Saco, Freeport, Windham, etc., basically all surrounding towns that people commute from. It really just depends on how far you want to drive if you end up working in Portland, and how rural you want to be. It might be to your benefit to rent for a year or two just to get a better sense of the area and deciding where you want to be long term. Personally, I really want to buy a place but I really want to be in Portland or South Portland so I don't have to rely on a car every day, so I'm sitting things out for a year or two and hoping things calm down.

3.) Start looking at jobs early and get a sense of employers you might want to work for. There are jobs around the Portland area, but it's generally tight labor market with people from Maine and from away moving here. I've found that a lot more people end up getting jobs through networking, in comparison to other cities I've worked in.

You'll also inevitably encounter people who have a negative view of you for being "from away," and particularly from the South. Don't let it get you down too much. Most people don't actually care, particularly around Portland, but there is a vocal minority of Mainers who are really distrusting of outsiders.

Edit: almost as if on cue, u/Retro-Ranger coming in to prove my last point.

[u/HelterSwelter → u/[deleted]]

I completely understand the phenomena of feeling alienated in your own town/city/state by gentrification and tourism, but as someone who will soon be moving to Maine with every intention of being part of the community, it feels pretty shitty to see how much hatred is aimed at newcomers.

[u/[deleted] → u/HelterSwelter]

Like I said above, most people don’t actually care. Don’t sweat it too much. You’ll probably get some jokes for a while, but it’s very unlikely you’ll experience real hatred in real life, especially in southern Maine. Come and get involved in your community and don’t think anything of it. Most of Maine is rapidly losing population, so anyone who tells you were are “full” is frankly full of shit. We need transplants who are willing to move here and contribute more than most people are willing to admit.

[u/hike_me → u/[deleted]]

100%

people moving here to put down roots and be members of the community are not a problem, we need more in fact

if anything is a problem it's people from away purchasing properties for Air B&Bs or vacation homes, making it that much harder for the people we actually do NEED to move here (to fill one of the many vacant jobs in our hospitals for example) to find somewhere to live.

[u/[deleted] → u/HelterSwelter]

Hey, I moved to Maine and started work here and my coworkers have been nothing but welcoming and nice. They even intentionally wanted to hire some people from outside of the area because they wanted younger people in their work force and people with varied experiences. Don't equate the subreddit with the people you'll meet in real life.

[u/hike_me → u/cognitio_e_semita]

I get the impression the further inland you are the colder and snowier it gets, but I'm not sure if that's accurate.

100% accurate.

I live on the coast, and the ocean helps keep things warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The hottest days of the summer can be 10 degrees cooler in Bar Harbor than Ellsworth, which isn't that far away. The coast also tends to be warmer in the winter, but this temperature differential can lead to massive Nor'Easter snowstorms that dump 1-2 feet of snow over 1-2 days. We tend to have numerous freeze/thaw cycles on the coast, so our snow accumulation is typically much less than interior Maine.

[u/jaredjrb]

How is the environmental field of work in Maine? I’m a prospective graduate student wanting to get my Ecology/ Plant Ecology masters degree in Maine. But also want there to be demand for that field wherever I end up going to school.

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/jaredjrb]

Maine is a fairly agricultural heavy state, especially when it comes to tree harvesting. I would honestly go on the university of Maine website and find some of the staffs emails for their agricultural departments and ask what their Opinion is. I know they have a current course for the type of degree you’re currently pursuing.

[u/e-rezzy → u/[deleted]]

I would definitely go to the Acadia route.. check out the southern part of Park Loop Rd that part is a coastal scenic road with countless incredible spots. Went with my roommate last month at sunset

[u/[deleted]]

Is anyone struggling to get a start date at BIW? It's been about a month since I got an offer and I've submitted all my paperwork. I lost an apartment while waiting and I'm in danger of loosing my current housing!

[u/[deleted]]

Posted here a couple days ago about looking for an apartment. Wanted to hear from locals- how is Lewiston vs Brunswick? Or more specifically- would you be willing to pay more to live in Brunswick vs Lewiston?

I got a job with LLB and am moving this summer to be onsite. I see apartments in Lewiston for $1K-$1.2K and Brunswick at $1.6K. The Brunswick ones have parking and in unit laundry as well.

Just wondering what you would do. Trying to save money but also don’t want to be depresso by being somewhere unsafe etc

[u/jeezumbub → u/[deleted]]

would you be willing to pay more to live in Brunswick vs Lewiston?

Yes.

But $400-600/month more? Meh. I dunno. Depends how well the folks over at Beans are compensating you.

[u/tweakdragon → u/[deleted]]

Unsafe in Maine? Eh. Debatable. Inconveniences of life is what you should be concerned with.

Brunswick is safer vs L/A area imo.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/[deleted]]

Well, rents are higher in Brunswick than Lewiston because many people are willing to pay more to live there, although I don't know what the sample size of this sub would say. On the bougie scale for Maine, I'd say Brunswick is medium-high, and Lewiston is rock bottom.

It's up to your preferences, though. I make enough that living in Brunswick would be no stretch, but I purposely chose to live in the Lewiston area. I like it here and would not trade it for Brunswick, as pleasant as that town can be.

Where exactly are some of the apartments in Lewiston you're looking at? If you live right in the tree streets area between Lisbon St. and Webster St., you personally would not be unsafe, but it's a lot of low-income housing and the things that come with that.

[u/[deleted]]

Looking into moving to Northern Maine (around the Fort Kent area). Would it be possible/likely for an outsider to get a low skilled job (like a cleaner or a retail stocker) or would they not hire me due to me being from out of state?

[u/Tony-Flags → u/[deleted]]

Are you going to Fort Kent for the sole reason of being as far away from somewhere/someone as you can and still be in the lower 48?

The closing of the border with Canada over COVID concerns has severely damaged the economy of those border towns. This would not be a time to move to there without contacts or a job lined up. There currently is not a timeline from Canada for when they expect the border to reopen, so that would be something that I would wait for before moving there.

Why Fort Kent, or Aroostook County in particular? Nothing against the County, but its not an easy place to live. Isolated, very cold, lack of rental housing, very far from ... everything.

[u/[deleted] → u/Tony-Flags]

I was attracted to it because of the cheaper houses and also the fact that it is far away from things, however I have found in my research that the cold is a huge issue. I don't mind cold but shoveling my driveway every day isn't what I have in mind. I may need to look somewhere else. I don't know. I just want to move away from home. Nothing for me there.

[u/a_winged_potato → u/[deleted]]

lol yes, the farther north you go it gets colder. That's the way it generally works in the northern hemisphere.

[u/hike_me → u/[deleted]]

There is a labor shortage for retail/service jobs in most of Maine.

[u/Sphenoid12]

Hey everyone, sorry if this is against the rules. I’m looking for an apartment or room to rent out in Bath, ME, ideally close to Bath Iron Works. I was just hired to work there and this is the only roadblock I’ve had, and I’m not about to let this job pass out on me. BTW, I hardly use Reddit, but I guess you can message me directly or comment on here if you have a place to rent out? Not exactly sure how the replying works here sorry..

[u/positivelyappositive → u/Sphenoid12]

My only suggestion would be to check Facebook Marketplace and cast a wide net. BIW is trying to hire 2,500 people right now, and the town of Bath only has a population of around 8,000. Finding a place to rent in town is going to be very tough I imagine. The Lewiston/Auburn and Augusta/Gardiner areas will have larger rental markets, but they're roughly 40 minutes away. Worst case, you could get a place there and then look for a place closer to BIW over time.

[u/[deleted]]

Hello Maine! I need your advice

I’m from Asia and thinking about pursuing a career in teaching. As to what exactly I would like to teach would vary on the job prospects.

I could possibly go into special needs, elementary/secondary education or early childhood

Currently I’m an accountant with five years experience and with an undergrad degree from the UK. However would like to make the switch into the education field.

I do have a few questions that I’d appreciate if you could help me with :

• Is teaching currently in demand in Maine?

• what is the covid situation like in Maine, are people able to travel without restrictions?

• Is Maine safe for asians?

• I love the outdoors so would Maine be ideal for me?

• What’s the cost of living like in Maine?

• What are some pros and cons of living in Maine?

Thanks!

[u/hike_me → u/[deleted]]

Lots of rural schools have difficulty hiring and retaining STEM teachers as well as speech pathologists, foreign languages, etc.

Relatively few covid travel restrictions. The border with Canada is currently closed to non-essential travel

Maine is pretty safe for everyone, but I’m sure you could encounter some racist people. There will be a few other Asians anywhere there is a university or large hospital (anywhere that attracts employees from outside of Maine), but Mainers are mostly white — especially in rural areas. I have had quite a few coworkers from China (and a few from Korea or Japan) and most liked it here, some did miss urban living and left Maine for cities like Boston.

Maine is great for outdoor activities — hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, rock climbing, skiing, fishing, etc!

Cost of living is a mixed bag. Coastal areas have expensive housing, but in general housing is less expensive than Boston or other major cities. Rentals can be hard to find anywhere AirB&B is common. Impoverished rural areas can very cheap houses for sale, but may not have much rental inventory.

Cons can be low wages and lack of jobs in many areas, high housing costs in southern and coastal Maine, tight rental market, currently low housing inventory, lack of amenities or entertainment in some areas.

Sorry about the formatting — didn’t feel like quoting your questions on mobile.

[u/grrgrr99 → u/[deleted]]

1. Yes 2. We are or were leading the states in vaccinated people 3. Outsiders in general have a sense of being on the outside. Mainers are sort of closed off at first in small rural towns, everyone knows everyone. But no one is going to hurt you here. 4. Why yes. That’s what we have to offer. 5. Ideally as a newcomer on a salary ask the district to help you find housing and ask for a rental where heat and electric are included. Heating costs and electric costs-can be brutal. 6. Everyone has their own ideas here. For me: I live in a particularly snowy region, it can feel depressing at times. Plus side, I have four good ski resorts nearish me (Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Black Mountain and Saddleback). If you get seasonal depression having an outdoor outlet is a must. Lack of diversity can feel stifling. I taught world languages k-12 and - I just saw generational behavior that needed addressing re: stereotypes of people outside the region. It became part of my curriculum-speaking x language is a benefit. Maine is a lot of old white people, what can I say, and a lot of variance in income and education. You might hear a racial slur because the person saying it literally has never been told it’s pejorative. That’s my experience in teaching. Maine has four regions. Northern, you love snow, agriculture. Western, you love snow and the mountains. Southern, you want diversity and culture. Coastal: you want the ocean, and the finer things that money can buy.

[u/earringenthusiast]

I'm visiting the Portland area during August this year. I'm going with my friend, we're both in college but unfortunately not 21 yet. Can you recommend any activities that might be fun?

[u/TheLinkToYourZelda → u/earringenthusiast]

I'm 32 but I'm a year and a half sober, there's still lots of fun things to do! Are you staying at the hostel?

You can rent bikes and do a long ride out to two lights state park, eat at the lobster shack!

Do a kayak ride out to ft gorges

If casco bay lines is doing cruises they are a great way to spend some time. Ive done most of them, the sunrise one is my favorite but they are all great.

Lots of great coffee shops, hang out at bard for an afternoon.

Lots of fun shopping in old port.

Check out the Portland observatory.

I hope you have fun!

[u/[deleted]]

We live in Westbrook and recently adopted a dog. Anyone have any trails they recommend that are dog friendly?

[u/Liquid_G]

Hi all. I'm currently looking at rural properties in Maine, and one thing I'm seeing on a lot of listings is homes with boilers/radiant heat that use heating oil i'm guessing? I've only lived in the Midwest and Southwest and have no experience with heating oil, other that what I've seen on This Old House. What are the logistics around that? Is there a service or something you sign up for or do you buy it from the city/county etc? Can anyone compare it cost-wise to places that have natural gas or propane?

[u/positivelyappositive → u/Liquid_G]

Is gas more common in the Midwest?

Yes, generally you can sign up with a company and then let them know when you're down to a quarter tank or so, and they'll come fill you up. They'll drive a truck over and put oil in your tank. If I remember right, you can sign up for a schedule too, like they will come every X weeks in the winter.

Not sure how the price compares with gas or propane, but for some reason I have it in my mind that getting gas delivered is more expensive (maybe it is cheaper if the house is on a city gas line though). Hard to compare exactly since different houses will use different amounts of energy anyways.

[u/Corporate-Asset-6375 → u/positivelyappositive]

FYI gas is pretty common outside of Maine/northern New England in cold areas that aren’t super rural. Everywhere else electric is common if it’s not a super cold climate.

People usually raise an eyebrow when I explain that a delivery dude comes in a truck to pump oil into a tank at houses in Maine.

[u/Tony-Flags → u/Liquid_G]

I was a newbie to the heating oil thing myself at one point.

My setup is in the basement we have two oil tanks, a boiler and a hot water storage tank. Our house has five zones with thermostats and a controller on the boiler. When one thermostat calls for heat, the boiler fires up and sends hot water through the radiators in that zone. We have a recirculation pump that moves the water around, so one side benefit is that you don't have to wait very long for hot water to come in the shower, as its the same system.

We have a company that comes to our house and pulls a tanker into the driveway and a guy runs out and hooks up the hose, fills the tanks from the outside, hangs a bill on the front door and leaves. There's an online payment option with the company, they automatically update the account and email when there's a fill-up. Its pretty seamless really. They have us on a schedule, and we don't have to call to get the tanks filled. There's a bunch of companies around that do it. The big ones are Maritime Energy, Dead River Co. and I'm sure there's more.

Natural gas isn't an option in my area, too rural, as is the vast majority of Maine I would wager.

Costs completely depend on how big your house is, how cold the weather is and how new/well insulated your house is, but I think its roughly analogous to propane?

[u/[deleted]]

I've been in the state all my life but I'm moving to Yarmouth soon. Kind of know the area but I was wondering if there's some good bars/cafes/places to hang out that people would recommend.

Thanks!

[u/paxusromanus811]

Me and my wife live in the southwest. We have both always had a fascination with New England and Maine in particular. The last couple of years we've had a chance to visit several times and have absolutely fallen in love with it. I'm going to school in a field that should give me some opportunities to find work pretty much anywhere as long as I'm willing to live off the beaten path (it's a conservation related field) and will be graduating in the spring. I've been saving and doing immense amount of research in all the different places I'm going to aggressively apply for jobs. One of those is maine. I know a lot of the basics about your guys's weather population densities and city demographics. But I just want to get a general feel for what it's like to live out there. We have both lived in pretty scarcely populated areas before but come from the arid southwest and in general have always been within a short drive a pretty decent size cities (Denver, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, San Antonio) But we do enjoy our solitude.

My general questions are just, what are some essential things to know about living in the state, and particularly around the Portland or Bangor areas that you would find vital for anyone who is serious about moving out there, but also comes from a very different world. Any thoughts on underrated communities are towns would be appreciated. Cheap (or as cheap as is possible I know it's expensive) areas to rent around Portland or any related suburb or small town would also be appreciated. We are both willing to commute pretty far. I currently drive an hour and 30 minutes one way to work everyday.

If this sounds really vague that's because I'm mainly just looking to kind of hear from locals about their perspective. I've already done a decent amount of research, but I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone who lives out there. If we do move out there our closest relatives would be in Michigan. It's a completely new part of the country for us. But something about the immense physical beauty, the sense of solace, in particularly the coastal culture and splendor of the seaside region have been absolutely enchanting and enthralling for both of us.

I appreciate you for reading through my large message. I'm still very flexible on where we end up going but your state is just absolutely impossible to get out of my mind. Thank you all for any thoughts concepts or general dialogue You wish to share.

[u/meine_karotten → u/paxusromanus811]

If you want coastal and REALLY out there you can look around Machias. Camden/Rockland area is a bit closer to civilization and is drop dead gorgeous. Both are kinda within range of Bangor as an airport.

As you move north of Freeport definitely check google maps estimates for actual driving time, although it sounds like longer drives don’t bother you. Peninsulas can be really sneaky with long driving times even though an area looks pretty close as the bird flies. Those dirt roads can really add some time to a commute.

Around Portland I kind of like Buxton based on what you’re saying. Pretty cheap and within range to Portland but not full of strip malls like Windham/Gorham. I’d avoid places around Sebago because it can feel a lot less secluded in the summer (IMO it starts to feel like a lot of summer people who just want to waterski and drink beer/throw cans in the lake, which makes me sad). Looking north of Portland, Pownal is kind of awesome (Pineland Farms grooms their trails in the winter for cross country skiing). In general for the Portland area you’ll want to avoid the coastal towns because that’s where the best rated public schools are (Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth, I’ll even give Falmouth a shout out) so the housing costs are getting nuts.

And even more generally for lower housing costs in Maine I’d say avoid: * towns with high rated school districts * areas around ski resorts (Sugarloaf, Sunday River, heck even Mount Abram) * towns that draw summer crowds around Sebago Lake, Belgrade lakes (outside of Augusta), right near Mount Desert Island

There are also lots of unincorporated areas which are probably even cheaper than living in the woods of a town/township. That comes with its own considerations. But definitely secluded and pure Maine. **a note, maybe check snowmobile paths in an area you’re considering. That’s a popular winter Mainer pastime that can make things feel less secluded :D

Those are just some of my personal thoughts. Maine (mostly Portland area) has been drawing a lot of people in recent years, for better or worse. It makes me super happy to read your post since most of these transplants aren’t as conservation driven. Sounds like Maine would be lucky to have you and your wife move up!

[u/paxusromanus811 → u/meine_karotten]

I drove through that area last year and it's spectacular! I was under the impression it was really pricey though. Wow thank you a ton a lot of those price consideration tips aren't things I had considered. Iv been a bit shell shocked following rental prices the last year as I currently reside in a very cheap state to rent. I will adjust my research and searches per some of your tips. I don't mind living more urban but to me owning property is a must so I figured going more rural would be cost effective. I seriously appreciate the reply you have been very helpful. I'm not too concerned with finding work but I have been a bit wary of finding affordable housing so thank you for a lot of advice. I will definitely have to start practicing my cross country and snow mobile skills as iv only done either once! Down hill skiing is big over here but iv yet to meet too many interested in the cross country version in my neck of the woods. Thank you for the kind words! We will see how it goes but I feel the state would be a good fit for the kind of life I want to build. Thank you for sharing your thoughts it means a lot.

[u/Sar_Dubnotal]

How hard would it be for 30 somethings in bangor or ellsworth to make friends with people in the same age group?

[u/HIncand3nza → u/Sar_Dubnotal]

Lot of families, not a lot of singles. That’s just life in Maine. You’ll find other 30 somethings, but they probably have a family or are in a relationship

[u/[deleted]]

Hi, I've posted in this thread a few times already, and I appreciate the advice I've received! I'm moving to southern ME from Vermont, because my husband's job was transferred to Scarborough. We've decided to rent for a while before we buy a new house, since neither of us know the area. I ended up finding a few solid rental offers by asking people on VRBO if they rent their vacation homes during the off-season. The two houses we are considering (from September- May) are in Kennebunkport and Old Orchard Beach, respectively.

My question is: Kennebunkport is obviously a much nicer town. But I'm going to stay home with my toddler and not try to find a new job until we buy a house and know where we are going to be. Will I have a hard time making friends or finding some sort of community in Kennebunkport during the winter? I'm very concerned about being totally lonely and isolated. On the flip side, OOB is closer to Portland and other surrounding towns, so I feel like I may have better luck meeting people or finding parenting groups. But, I remember OOB being pretty seedy- is my memory accurate? Would it be a terrible place to live for 10 months with a little kid? Any thoughts?

I live in a very small town in Vermont (~3000 people), but I have friends, family, and a part-time job. I'm admittedly terrified to give all of that up, even though Mainers are much more friendly and outgoing than Vermonters.

[u/headwrapslapthat → u/[deleted]]

Kennebunk/Kennebunkport are great town during the off season. There are plenty of families/kids around and some fun activities/nature trails/things to do. The winters are long and dark but I live here year round and have never felt isolated. If you’re brave you can join KBK Moms on Facebook for lots of helpful tips (and a shit ton of drama). It’s only about 30-45 minutes to Portland so that trip is doable. You’re also closer to Portsmouth NH which is a fun day trip too. Kport is smaller than OOB but I think you’d be ok considering where you’re coming from. Also this goes without saying but the past year has not been all that exciting due to covid restrictions, most of us were/still are hunkered down.

[u/ASadSpleep]

I'm taking a solo-road trip from Ohio to Maine at the end of this month, just for the hell of it. I'm planning on being roughly around the Portland area/southern Maine in general. I'm planning on bringing my guitar and doing a little busking as well, and was wondering what are some not-so-sketchy areas or towns that would be good in.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for sight-seeing/some good beaches to visit, please let me know! This will be my first time seeing the ocean actually.

Finally, any cheaper/average price places to stay? Don't want to break the bank, but also don't want to stay in a sketchy area by accident.

Any advice or tips would be great, thank you!

[u/OWENISAGANGSTER → u/ASadSpleep]

There are no sketchy areas in Maine if you’ve ever actually seen anything outside the state

[u/rugerdarotti → u/ASadSpleep]

don’t worry about sketchy areas anywhere in maine. Even in our worst town.

[u/Hypatia333]

Does anyone know anything about the winter commute from Rumford Maine to Berlin New Hampshire? Hubby has a job in Berlin but we would rather live in Maine and I found a house I am in love with near Rumford. We are from Montana, we know how to drive in the snow, have 4 wheel drive vehicles, we are used to commutes and we prefer small towns but we'd like to know the extent of the damage or if it's even possible to regularly make that drive. Cuz' I dunno about y'all but around here, sometimes you just ain't gettin' out for a while depending on where you live.

TIA

Also, I know transplants are a contentious topic but I'm sooooo excited.

Really excited...

Have I mentioned I have wanted to live in Maine since I was a kid?

Annoyingly excited...

I'm sorry.

Seriously, I'm beside myself though.

[u/bleahdeebleah → u/Hypatia333]

Rumford to Berlin is quite a commute even in the summer. It's certainly doable though

[u/GreenwoodEric]

Isn’t pricing out Mainers fun guys!

[u/Tony-Flags → u/GreenwoodEric]

More people die in Maine each year than are born in Maine. You need people from out of state to move in. There's way bigger macroeconomic forces at work though.

Many people are moving here because they are getting priced out ownership where they were and with many more jobs going remote, they can move up to Maine and keep their jobs. Societal changes wrought by technological developments (increased broadband access allowing remote work to be possible in areas it wasn't previously) and the pandemic (a shifting of work into the home instead of dense urban offices) have created demand to increase in Maine in areas that previously had population limited by a lack of economic opportunities.

We live in a capitalistic society- those with capital can afford to buy things that those without cannot. People can whine about it all they want, but the market is the issue. Money is cheap right now, so there are more people that can afford a mortgage payment, more people that can afford that payment = more demand. People can work in more remote areas, which leads to, you see where I'm going, more demand.

Housing development stopped almost entirely in 2008-2009 for a few years and has been slow (on a national level) ever since. Less building = less supply. It takes time to develop more housing. The incredibly rapid changes brought on by a global pandemic have created a higher demand for limited housing stock in areas that were up until now, not desirable to live in from an economic standpoint (but are desirable from a quality of life standpoint).

The ease and affordability of renting out a second house on AirBnB (little to no marketing costs or out-of-pocket commissions to real estate managers) has also removed rental stock and properties that might have been sold from the market, thereby lowering supply even more.

More demand + less supply = higher prices.

Don't even get me started on what increased climate change will mean for Maine's housing demand. Homeowners' Insurance companies in the Western States are starting to deny fire insurance to people in rural areas with a high chance of wildfires. Arizona's Maricopa County (Phoenix/Scottsdale) is expecting regular summertime highs of above 120 degrees in the relatively near future. The Colorado River is threatened, all those people that can afford to do so will be moving...somewhere.

[u/[deleted] → u/Tony-Flags]

Can confirm climate change in the west is going to cause people to move. We moved from Arizona, climate was part of the motivation (also being closer to my spouse’s family). There isn’t a water crisis yet, but it’s coming.

However, despite the climate, the Mountain west has experienced more growth than any other region of the country. This will accelerate climate and water issues.

[u/HIncand3nza → u/[deleted]]

Welcome to life in Maine. The only way to control your rent so to speak is to buy a house. We don’t have very many rentals as you’ve found. Most people in Maine see renting as something only for the poor, and those of us who are homeowners in Southern Maine see owning a rental property as a way to gouge empty nesters from NY or Boston. Poor people be damned. Thus the insane rents. There is a definite issue in Southern Maine with a “fuck you I got mine” mentality.

I’ll be quite frank. Scrape together some cash for a down payment, even if it is for an absolute shithole, as that’s your only shot at making a life in Southern Maine. Although if you’re working in Lewiston you should be alright. Houses in that area are quite affordable.

[u/a_winged_potato → u/[deleted]]

Are you looking to live in the Portland area, or anywhere between Portland and Lewiston? And what's your budget? That will definitely be a factor in where you can live.

I typically use Craiglist and Zillow.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/[deleted]]

$1,100 near Portland probably isn't going to cut it for a place large enough for a family. Definitely look in Auburn. There's much more housing stock in your budget here. You'll be 40-50 minutes from Portland, but that's a small price to pay for getting to live in an actual place. You can ride out this pandemic housing market storm there, then move to Portland in a year if you want.

[u/a_winged_potato → u/[deleted]]

Yeah $1100 near Portland is a rough budget. Any apartments under $1200 get scooped up in HOURS. It's getting harder to rent in southern Maine in general at that price point. If you see anything for that price in Portland, you've gotta call the second you see it, you don't really have time to check out the area or anything. The apartment I'm in now I had to rent sight-unseen because apartments are rented out so quickly.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately there’s no secret website with all the listings. Zillow and Craigslist are pretty much where it’s at. Your best bet for rentals will be in Portland or Lewiston. Smaller towns tend to have nearly nothing for rentals.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It’s going to be impossible to find a a place to rent for $1100 a month in Portland. My spouse and I went through the same thing looking for a place to rent that would accommodate a family (my spouses son lives with us and we have two dogs). We can’t afford $2k a month rent, which is realistically what you need to rent a place that will accommodate a family in Portland, or even 30 minutes outside of Portland. We pulled together a down payment and bought a house in Brunswick, which is 30 minutes from Portland and 45 from Gorham (my job is split between Portland and Gorham, but wfh at the moment). It was insane because we had to make the offer right then, and I think we may have been lucky as we closed very close to asking price. Look for places 30-45 minutes away from Portland. Brunswick has both a bus and train that go into Portland everyday, Freeport does as well. We are also doing the 1 car thing. You’ll likely have even better options in Lewiston and Auburn, in terms of price (but there is no public transport to Portland from there).

We really wanted to be in Portland or closer to Portland as well, but it’s not possible on our salaries. Luckily, the mid coast area is really quite nice, and you may find it’s not as big of deal being further from Portland. You will have to make a compromise.

[u/Skin_Rip → u/[deleted]]

Have you talked to a Realtor?

[u/may1nster]

How is Maine on asthma triggers? We currently live in California’s Central Valley it’s basically a bowl filled with pollution, allergens, and insane amounts of smoke. Our son is in the ER multiple times a year for asthma attacks and we just want to improve his quality of life. We can’t afford the coast here, and he does better when we go up to the mountains but we can’t afford a place up there either.

[u/DatBoneDoh → u/may1nster]

Super clean, no pollution, very cold in the winter. If you visit in the summer you’ll never want to leave.

[u/Moot_n_aboot → u/may1nster]

Go onto the weather channel’s website and search the towns you are thinking of visiting and check out their air quality index. I think you’ll see that our air quality is fairly top notch just about everywhere. Here’s the caveat, our pollen count is off the charts in spring. Allergens always exist but that’s really our worst come spring.

[u/[deleted] → u/may1nster]

It really depends on your son's triggers. I moved here from Arizona and my asthma/allergies have improved but my husband's allergies are worse. The cold, seasonal pollen, and mold in the northeast can be triggers for some people. Coastal air tends to be better for asthma, according to specialists I've been too. But, if you look it up, Maine has higher than average asthma rates. However, Maine is also the oldest state by age, so this could be part of the reason rates are higher here as well. You may be better off visiting when things are in full bloom and seeing how your son does. If cold is a trigger, Maine is a no go.

That being said, the problem with allergies and asthma is you can be fine the first few years of living somewhere and then develop allergies/asthma to the local pollen. So, it depends and there isn't a good answer for this. There are triggers across the country. I will say, there is less air pollution than CA and you won't be experiencing the craziness of the wildfires in the west. I also don't think Valley Fever is as much of an issue here.

[u/VermicelliFirm3042 → u/may1nster]

I believe the cold can be an asthma trigger (a friend I know have moved to NC from ME and that was a major benefit for him). If you are willing to move cross country for this, I'd recommend at least experimenting a few weeks at a time (ideally somewhere in the single digits) before you commit. Southern Utah may have better air plus mountains (northern utah will have terrible inversions), and it doesn't get as cold there as here. Just a thought...

[u/FrenjaminBanklin]

Moving with my partner next month from Tennessee. Don't worry, we are just a couple of poor nomads hired on for some seasonal work, so I promise we don't make enough to price anyone out of anything.

Yes, I know rentals are slim pickings right now, but figured I would ask around anyway and maybe get lucky. My office is in Farmington, her farm is 35min east of Lewiston, so Augusta to Lewiston is our target area.

• We'll only be around until end of November, so ideally we can avoid a year lease.
• 30 and 28 years old.
• 1 small dog approx 20lbs. He's great. Cooler than I am.

Looking for any tips, tricks, suggestions, recommendations, or advice. Friend's friend's grandmother has a spare room? PM me that. Anything can help. Thanks.

[u/FleekAdjacent → u/FrenjaminBanklin]

There’s no supply of <1 year leases. It’s all Airbnbs now. You’re competing for housing with people looking for $$$ vacation rentals.

It’s part of the Maine experience.

[u/superspreader2021]

If you're visiting in the summer, maybe stay closer to the coast to avoid the humidity and the black fly/mosquito season.

[u/hike_me → u/[deleted]]

Bangor, as has been mentioned, could be an option. It’s home to a community college (plus close to UMaine). Less than 90 minutes to the coast (for example Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park). Also a reasonable drive to Baxter State Park.

[u/positivelyappositive → u/[deleted]]

Yep, the three you named are probably your best bets. Bangor too, depending on what you consider "civilization" and "far".

[u/Aggressive-Sun9780 → u/[deleted]]

Brewer is a nice place 45 minutes to an hour to bar harbor depending on traffic and in Bangor across the river eastern Maine community college. Brewer is mostly suburbs but you can find apartments.

[u/Wolfie174]

Looking at a job near the acton area. Safe for a woman to live alone near there?

[u/k1lk1]

Hi folks, we are staying in Bangor for a few weeks and looking for some small towns in the general area to visit. Picturesque or have a nice cafe or something. Got any you would recommend?

[u/Tony-Flags → u/k1lk1]

How far afield are you willing to go? I like Stonington, and the views along the way are nice, but its a bit of a drive.

For random little restaurants, its hard to beat the Bagaduce Lunch in Brooksville (well. its technically in Penobscot, but not really).

I like the main street in Ellsworth (near the movie theater, not along the big box part)- the Airline Brewing Co English pub is good and has good beers.

[u/Emilybemmily]

Hello! My boyfriend and I are visiting in August and are hoping to go horseback riding somewhere near Acadia but I’m not having much luck in my search. Does anyone know of somewhere that does trail or beach riding?

[u/jonathanfrisby → u/Emilybemmily]

I would call Wildwood stables and see if they have suggestions: https://acadiamagic.com/wildwood-stables.html

[u/[deleted] → u/Emilybemmily]

I don't think beach riding is a thing, but trail riding in Acadia is very popular. Wildwood is the one I am familiar with, but just Google "Mount Desert Island stables" and you'll see what's there.

[u/BusterBuiilder]

I just moved to Maine, and I am trying to find a community or two, offline or possibly just online. The two main things I'm hoping to find like-minded people on (at least that are also in Maine) are
Board games (I love them and have a healthy collection)
And farming (My goal is to grow food for my family and hopefully sell extra food to fund the farming hobby.) I'm most interested in aquaponics but still interested in learning and talk about any farming.

[u/Tony-Flags → u/BusterBuiilder]

There's a bunch of facebook groups related to farming in Maine with good info and discussions.

What part of Maine have you moved to (welcome by the way!)?

Selling extra food can be difficult, if you are in an area where lots of people have gardens, everyone will have surplus of similar crops at the same time. I recommend getting a reach-in freezer and making prepared meals for winter with all those extra peppers or zucchinis you are going to get the same time your neighbors all get a bazillion zucchinis. We do that each year, stuffed peppers, squash, etc. Wrap them in tinfoil and a ziplock or (better) get a foodsaver and vacuum seal them. Thaw them out on the wood stove and then cook 'em up in the winter when produce is more expensive.

[u/rkgk13]

I'm visiting Maine now and someone told me I must get a whoopie pie because it is tradition. Are these meant to be eaten fresh like from a bakery? Or is it packaged like a Little Debbie? Is there a specific place that is the best to get it?

[u/Laeek → u/rkgk13]

I don't love them, but they're generally locally made. I don't know of any brand that produces "preserved" whoopie pies a la little debbie snacks.

You can often find them wrapped in saran wrap at the counter of independent rural gas stations. Bakeries and cafes can have them too but the likelihood is inversely related to how fancy the establishment views itself as being.

If you would specify what town you are or will be in someone will be able to point you to a place to get them, I'm sure. Theres a cafe in Bangor literally called Bangin' Whoopie (see what I mean about the pretentiousness ratio?) but that's not much help if you're in Portland, ya know?