Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
On the Scenic Maine Coast, Boothbay is an Old Fishing Village with Cute Shops, a Touristy Boardwalk and Salt-Laden Air
Maine's rugged, scenic mid-coast is dotted with picturesque, weathered hamlets, and delightful Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor are two of them. Once one town, they are adjacent to one another and sit on a peninsula formed by the Sheepscot and Damariscotta rivers. This scenic area is simply called Boothbay.
A salty old fishing village with a working class sensibility, Boothbay is very much a seasonal town. Vacationers descend during the summer and fall, mainly to soak up the rich New England ambiance and hike in the surrounding hills. They also visit the small, touristy waterfront boardwalk that is peppered with nautical retailers, seafood restaurants, galleries and trinket shops. A deeply ingrained history of sailing and yachting permeates every corner, and boats of various sizes bob in the water, ready to set sail for adventure. A botanic garden, an arts foundation, an 18 hole golf course, a community playhouse and a Thursday farmers' market all add to Boothbay's considerable charm.
Neighborhoods are wooded and low density, with home styles such as farmhouse, Victorian, cottage, Cape Cod and ranch rambler. Some of the old cottages in Ocean Point, a longstanding waterfront neighborhood, have breathtaking ocean views.
Population: 5,500 (combined)
Age 45 or Better: 47%
Cost of Living: 30% above the national average
Median Home Price: $585,000 (an average of the two areas)
Climate: Summers are short with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Winters are long with temperatures in the teens and 20s. On average, the area receives 44 inches of rain and 64 inches of snow each year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? Yes
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, 15 miles away, is accredited.
Public Transit: Not in town, but Amtrak and Greyhound stop in Wiscasset, 20 miles away, and run to Boston, Portland and Bangor. An occasionally summer trolley runs from Boothbay to neighboring Damariscotta.
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: Yes, and it is located in a Greek Revival-style structure that was once a private home.
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 31%
Is Maine Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? No
Cons: State Route 27, really the only way into town, becomes heavily congested during tourist season.
Notes: Racial diversity is practically non-existent. The area has maintained its population during the last decade. Winters are very quiet; not many many people live here year-round. Home prices have increased 6% since a year ago.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, although the long, quiet winters should be considered.
Maine:
The most northern state of the seven states of New England, Maine is characterized by a rugged, scenic coast, rolling hills and thick forests. Parts of Maine are very remote, not easy to reach by train, plane or automobile. Other areas, most notably the southern coastal and mid-coastal towns, are easily accessible and often very crowded during tourist season.
Vacationers come for the amazing scenery. In fact, Maine has some of the prettiest coastal areas in the entire country. People also come for the lobster and other tempting seafood. Some of the most popular tourist towns include Portland, Camden, Bar Harbor, Boothbay Harbor, Kennebunkport and Freeport, where L.L. Bean and dozens of outlet stores are located.
Northern and inner Maine are dotted with pristine lakes and rivers that are far from the madding crowds. Apple cider stands, winding country roads, friendly, down to earth people and roadside cafes that serve delicious blueberry pancakes and sumptuous lobster dinners are highlights of the Maine that few tourists ever see.
Summers are humid but not too hot, and autumn's crisp, cool air begins to arrive in late August. Winters are not for the faint of heart, but they are breathtakingly beautiful.
Mainers like to say, "Ayuh, you can't thare from here," but everyone should get to magical Maine at least once.
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