9 Welcoming Towns to Retire in Maine
All it takes is one visit to Maine to make you want to stay forever! With its windswept beaches, rocky bluffs overlooking the Atlantic, and some of the best seafood on the Eastern Seaboard, it’s like heaven on earth. If you’re dreaming of a Maine retirement, these cozy communities are worth checking out. In these cities, you’ll have easy access to all the essential amenities while enjoying the peaceful solitude that makes Maine so unique. When you’re ready to sail off into your golden years, a warm welcome in Maine awaits you.
Hallowell
Traveling inland away from the ocean is Hallowell, along the banks of the Kennebec River. It's a little more affordable to live in Hallowell, with the average home price selling for about $475,000. It's also safe, with a crime rate of around 27 per 1,000 residents per year. Hallowell is a bit too small for a big hospital, but the good news is that you don’t have to drive far for some of the best care in the state. Since Hallowell is just outside the state capital of Augusta, residents will only have to make a 10-minute drive into Augusta for quality care at MaineGeneral Medical Center. And there are also well-regarded assisted living facilities, like the Woodlands Senior Living of Hallowell.
The walkable downtown hosts a myriad of quaint local shops along Water Street, like Hallowell Antique Mall and Merrill's Bookshop. Since Hallowell is on the Kennebec River, there are ample opportunities to get out on the water for fishing and boating. If you want to keep active during your senior years, the Kennebec River Rail Trail is a popular spot among the locals. The trail runs right along the Kennebec River, and it’s especially lovely during the fall.
Belfast
On the shores of Penobscot Bay is Belfast, known for its historic downtown area that is quintessentially New England. Think tall, ornate brick buildings towering over winding streets and distant water views. If you love fresh seafood, you’re bound to get a little thicker after moving to Belfast. The Nautilus Seafood and Grill is a local favorite and even has a patio with a view of the river during the warmer months. You may get a little thicker around the waistline in Belfast, but there are plenty of opportunities to stay active. You can take a stroll along the Belfast Harbor Walk or breathe in the fresh ocean air at Moose Point State Park.
Living in Belfast costs about 1 percent more than the rest of Maine. The average home price sells for around $389,500. Belfast also has everything you’ll need in your senior years close at hand. The downtown MaineHealth Waldo Hospital offers a wide array of care and even has health and wellness programs. Even if you hadn’t planned on staying in a retirement community in Belfast, you might change your mind when checking out Penobscot Shores! This highly regarded retirement community feels more like a vacation retreat with manicured gardens and ocean views.
York
Living in York is expensive but safe. According to the FBI UCR program, there were only 11 violent crimes reported, and it has an average home price of $650,000. Life in York, one of Maine’s oldest coastal towns, means salty sea air, rocky cliffs, and breathtaking lighthouses. And while it has all the makings of a 365-day-a-year vacation, this community has everything you need in your golden years. Even York Hospital has a rich history! As a former summer cottage, it opened its doors in 1906. It has expanded a great deal since its humble beginnings and offers top-notch care in its updated facility. And if you need an assisted living facility, Sentry Hill at York Harbor is a well-regarded and stunning facility offering excellent care.
Staying active in York is easy. You can go for a walk along one of York’s many public beaches, like Long Sands Beach, or head to Sohier Park, which has a view of Nubble Lighthouse. When you work up an appetite after a long walk along the beach, you can’t throw a rock in York without hitting at least one fantastic restaurant. Speaking of stones, one of the best spots for fresh seafood is the Stones Throw Hotel and Restaurant!
Cape Elizabeth
Just south of Portland is the peaceful area of Cape Elizabeth, known for its tight-knit community and breathtaking scenery. It’s expensive to live in Cape Elizabeth, but it's so worth it. The Economic Research Institute states that the average home price is about $825,000, and it is 17 percent more expensive to live there than the national average. To truly understand the natural beauty of Cape Elizabeth, there’s no better spot than Fort Williams Park. This 40-acre seaside park has notable historical landmarks like the Portland Head Light and the ruins of the decommissioned Fort Williams.
Cape Elizabeth is a little too small for a hospital, but some of the best hospitals in the state are about a six-mile drive north of Portland. Maine Medical Center - Portland is ranked as the number one hospital in the state by U.S. News & World Report. You won’t have to travel outside of Cape Elizabeth for excellent assisted living facilities. There are quite a few in Cale Elizabeth, and one of the best is the beautifully modern and updated Landing at Cape Elizabeth.
Farmington
It's very affordable to live in Farmington, which has an average home price of $262,000, and the overall cost of living is two percent lower than the national average. Plus, it’s safe with the FBI UCR program detailing only eight violent crimes in the area. While many of the bigger cities of Maine exist along the coastline (due to historical and trading reasons), Farmington is one of those rare inland Maine towns that still puts you at the heart of all the action. It has a top-notch hospital, the Franklin Memorial Hospital, that excels in emergency care, oncology, and rehabilitation services. It also has some fantastic assisted living facilities like Woodlands Senior Living of Farmington.
One of the best things about retiring in Farmington is home prices are much lower than in most coastal cities, with the average home price selling for around $250,000 (according to Zillow). It’s an ideal place for nature lovers to live in the foothills of Maine's western mountains. In the summer, you can hike the Whistle Stop Trail, which takes you through the rolling hills of inland Maine. The Farmington Recreation and Parks is where you can work on your pickleball game when the weather gets too cold!
Sanford
While many of the best retirement destinations in Maine are along the coastline, Sanford is a little different. This inland community lies east of Rochester, New Hampshire, and is famous for its beautiful neighborhoods and stunning natural scenery. The Bauneg Beg Conservation Area is worth the move to Sanford alone! It offers miles of hiking trails and breathtaking views. If you climb to the top of Mount Hope, you can even catch a rare glimpse of Mount Washington in the distance (on a clear day). It’s a little more affordable to live in Sanford, with the average home price selling for around $375,000. You also don’t have to worry about crime, with the FBI reporting only 41 violent crimes per 21,000 residents.
Aside from its natural beauty, Sanford has plenty to keep retirees busy year-round. You can catch a live show at the Sanford Performing Arts Center or shop for fresh produce (and lobster!) at Jerry’s Market. Sanford has two well-regarded hospitals, MaineHealth - Maine Medical Center and York Hospital. Plus, many of its assisted living facilities, like the Lodges Care Center, are modern and have everything you need right at hand.
Freeport
If you can’t decide between a retirement in the mountains or the ocean, Freeport offers a little of both. With the shores of Casco Bay to the east and Hedgehog Mountain to the west, there’s a little something for everyone in Freeport. You can take a self-guided nature walk in Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park and soak in the scenery where the crystal clear waters meet the rocky shores. Or, if you love the mountains, Hedgehog Mountain offers some of the most stunning views in the state.
Living in Freeport is a little expensive (the average home price sells for around $645,000, but it’s incredibly safe. According to FBI data, there was only one violent crime per 8,500 residents. Residents don’t have to travel far for excellent medical care. Mid Coast Hospital is a 93-bed full-service hospital just 20 minutes away in Brunswick. Just 20 minutes south is Maine Medical Center in Portland, which is considered one of the best hospitals in the state. It also has fantastic assisted living facilities not too far from downtown, like Bella Point Freeport. The facility is also within walking distance to the Freeport Elders Association!
Kennebunkport
If you’re dreaming of coastal living in your golden years, look no further than Kennebunkport. According to Safe Choice Security, it's one of the safest cities in the state, but it has a higher cost of living, with the average home price selling for just over a million dollars. It is a cozy seaside village along the banks of the Kennebunk River leading to the Atlantic Ocean. While there are no hospitals in Kennebunkport, residents don’t have to travel far for expert care. Southern Maine Health Care is less than a 20-minute drive away in Biddeford, offering everything from emergency care to cancer care and surgery. Plus, Kennebunkport also has wonderful retirement communities like Atria Kennebunk, which provides top-notch care in its modern facilities.
Staying active in your senior years is important, and there are plenty of opportunities to get moving in Kennebunkport. Like the Goose Rocks Beach, its stunning beaches have long, flat, sandy beaches that trace the Atlantic Ocean. But if you aren’t a fan of all that sand, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge has lush wooded trails and marshy wetlands that are ideal for an easy afternoon hike.
Boothbay Harbor
Boothbay Harbor is a small coastal town east of Portland. It is expensive but worth it! It has an average home price of $500,000 and a crime rate of 3 violent crimes per 2,200 residents per FBI data. The colorful New England-style shops feel like a 24/7 beach vacation. With friendly local shops like Gimbel & Sons Country Store and Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shop, Boothbay Harbor feels locked away in time. MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital is about a 20-minute drive from the center and offers inpatient care and a variety of services. They also boast updated assisted living facilities, like St Andrews Village Retirement Community.
It’s not hard to stay active in this scenic stretch of coastline in Maine. Residents can visit the Knickercane Island Park to hike the trails or launch a boat on the water for a day of fishing. One of the more popular spots is the rocky shores of Barrett's Park, which traces Linekin Bay. The trails and beaches of Boothbay Harbor are never crowded and are a perfect spot to relax and unwind.
Retire with Ease In Maine
It won’t take long for you to feel right at home in these welcoming communities in Maine. From the mountains of Farmington to the coastlines of Boothbay Harbor, Maine is a tranquil retreat to spend your golden years. Just imagine a retirement of fresh lobster, rocky beaches, and tight-knit communities where you’ll fit right in immediately. With 20 percent of its population being over 65 years old (according to Unbiased), you’ll quickly discover a community of like-minded people. And while most of these hidden gems are isolated hamlets, you never have to travel far for quality care in larger cities like Portland or Lewiston.
