Considering a move to Portland, ME--would love advice from those who know the area

[Anonymous]

I've been offered a great job in Portland, ME. I've been to Portland and love the city, but I think we'd want to use this as an opportunity to live outside of a city instead of in the thick of things (we currently live in a small rowhouse in DC and we crave more green space).

If you know the area, I'd love to hear about towns/neighborhoods within 25 minutes of Portland that are friendly, welcoming and have lots that are 1-4-ish acres. I'll have to commute into Portland 2-3 days/week, and I don't want to travel more than 25-ish minutes. We're hoping for lots of nature/outdoor activities nearby. We love skiing, hiking and great views. We can spend up to about 950K on a house. We could probably go a little higher...but I think 950 will go pretty far in Maine, right?

If you know of great towns/neighborhoods outside of Portland, I'd love to hear about them! We have an 8 year old who will be going into 3rd grade if/when we move this summer.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Check out Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland. We love Cape as everything in sort of self contained there, but it’s pricey. Schools are good at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland. We love Cape as everything in sort of self contained there, but it’s pricey. Schools are good at all.

+1 Love Cape Elizabeth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland. We love Cape as everything in sort of self contained there, but it’s pricey. Schools are good at all.

+1 Love Cape Elizabeth!

1-4 acres in Cape Elizabeth? Is that even possible?

I'd move to South Portland because Daniel and Bigfoot live there. IYKYK

[Anonymous]

There's only a handful of suburbs that circle Portland and PP has mentioned several. I don't know if that much land at your price point is going to be readily available in those towns - depends on what kind of house you're hoping for. You could look further afield in Scarborough or Gorham. Even Freeport might be within your 25 min commute depending on where you'd be working in Portland.

[Anonymous]

1 to 4 acres, 25 minutes from Portland and 950k is a stretch. Maine is no longer cheap.

[Anonymous]

Falmouth is nice (friend grew up there). Prices in parts of Maine zoomed up during Covid, but I’m not sure about there specifically.

[Anonymous]

It has a LOT of drug use and the public schools are not great. You need to be able to afford private school if you hsve children.

[Anonymous]

Look at Maine Listings for Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth. Then you’ll see what the housing market is rn.

I’d advise looking at houses in those three towns and taking a tour of the schools as well. Then you’ll get a sense of each town and a feeling for where you would feel most at home. That is what we did, and chose Yarmouth. It was just a feeling that led us to that choice. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those towns.

[Anonymous]

OP, how old are your DCs? No teen wants to live on 1-4 acres with no Uber or public transit. They'll wonder why you ripped them out of their rowhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how old are your DCs? No teen wants to live on 1-4 acres with no Uber or public transit. They'll wonder why you ripped them out of their rowhouse.

As someone who knows teens in rural New England, you have no idea what you're saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's only a handful of suburbs that circle Portland and PP has mentioned several. I don't know if that much land at your price point is going to be readily available in those towns - depends on what kind of house you're hoping for. You could look further afield in Scarborough or Gorham. Even Freeport might be within your 25 min commute depending on where you'd be working in Portland.

+1

We moved to Brunswick, Maine several years ago and we are so happy here. It's wonderful.

Consider Freeport, Brunswick (especially west of 295), Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Durham, Westbrook, Cumberland, Gorham.

Your budget makes Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, and Falmouth challenging and in any case you probably won't find 1+ acre lots in those towns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1 to 4 acres, 25 minutes from Portland and 950k is a stretch. Maine is no longer cheap.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 to 4 acres, 25 minutes from Portland and 950k is a stretch. Maine is no longer cheap.

+1

Scarborough is a possibility, especially west of 295.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, how old are your DCs? No teen wants to live on 1-4 acres with no Uber or public transit. They'll wonder why you ripped them out of their rowhouse.

As someone who knows teens in rural New England, you have no idea what you're saying.

Did OPs kids grow up on rural NE? No.