Help with potential relocation to ME (Portland, Bangor: for sale, low crime, homes)

[CT_trackstar]

Family and I are considering moving to ME. I have heard many good things. Currently living in central CT, I am hoping the COL is lower in ME. I have potential job opportunities in Portland and maybe Bangor. Have a $400k budget for a home, looking for a nice 4BR with at least an acre. I am willing to commute an hour each way if need be.

We're looking for suggestions for towns to settle down in. Criteria, in descending order of importance: school quality, low crime, nice neighborhoods, nice scenery, nice town center.

Thanks in advance.

[dmyankee]

You won't have to commute any where near an hour. You could even be on a body of water.

[CT_trackstar]

Originally Posted by dmyankee

You won't have to commute any where near an hour. You could even be on a body of water.

I'm obviously hoping for less than an hour's commute, but that's as far as I'm willing to go.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Lincoln with 13 lakes. You can have a lakeside palace on that budget.

Welcome to Lincoln, Maine!

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by CT_trackstar

Family and I are considering moving to ME. I have heard many good things. Currently living in central CT, I am hoping the COL is lower in ME. I have potential job opportunities in Portland and maybe Bangor. Have a $400k budget for a home, looking for a nice 4BR with at least an acre. I am willing to commute an hour each way if need be.

We're looking for suggestions for towns to settle down in. Criteria, in descending order of importance: school quality, low crime, nice neighborhoods, nice scenery, nice town center.

Thanks in advance.

$400k will get you almost any place you want near Bangor. Around Portland, you would have to live off the water.

Dedham, Holden, Hampden all come to mind. Hampden may be the better choice of these three.

[atardie]

400 k in this market will get you just about anything you want anywhere you want. You will have ALOT to look at in that range! Good luck.

[lrfox]

Yeah, you won't get an acre and waterfront for 400k, but you could get 4br on the water within an hour of Portland easily (most likely a lake).

I'd look at places like Gorham, Buxton, Scarborough (West Scarborough in particular), Falmouth, Yarmouth, Cumberland, Freeport and maybe Gray. These are very close to Portland and you can easily find an acre or more in each for within your budget. Traffic won't be an issue and your commute should be a breeze with the exception of snowy days. Good luck!

For example, HERE's a waterfront home in Yarmouth that's nearly 3,000 sq. feet (it says 8 bedrooms... no way that's correct) for $369,000. Housing is absolutely cheaper anywhere in Maine vs. anywhere in CT, I don't know about other living expenses though. Or HERE is a renovated 4000 sq. foot (5 bedrooms) farmhouse in Gorham on 2 acres for $359,000.

[Casper1212]

Around Calais and along Coastal Route 1, you can pretty much take your pick of homes for that kind of money. And Washington County has an abundance of lakes to choose from, with homes for sale, that would also fit that bill. Talk to Northern Maine Land Man.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by Casper1212

Around Calais and along Coastal Route 1, you can pretty much take your pick of homes for that kind of money. And Washington County has an abundance of lakes to choose from, with homes for sale, that would also fit that bill. Talk to Northern Maine Land Man.

Not to be too picky, but the jobs were in Portland or Bangor. Calais would be quite a commute... especially in the winter.

[Submariner]

CT_trackstar - We moved to Maine from Norwich Ct.

Welcome to the CD forum.

The COL is a great deal lower in Maine.

In the Bangor region you could find a 4BR on 5acres for about half of your budget.

The schools are great here.

Crime here is much lower than what you are used to.

The scenery is so nice that we get tourists.