Where is a wonderful place to move to in Maine? (Portland: universities, wages)

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by xxphoenixx21

Hello, I've been thinking of moving to Maine for many years. I've always been in love with the rocky shores and beautiful country side. I will probably be moving with me and my family of 5. We have one daughter at the age of 5 and school would also be a factor. But mostly just really interested in beautiful country side, good friendly people and slightly slower life pace. Low crime rate is good also.
I'm wondering what city would be the best to move to as far as work and rental/housing prices.
As of now where we live, we are paying on average:

Rent-900 for a 3 bedroom brick house w/ garage in city subdivision

electric-120
gas-50
water and trash-50
internet-60
phone-120 AT&T cell phone

We will have to find new work when we get there and anything hiring is helpful as well.
We all work in security but I would love to get into anything differnent, but don't have much expereince.

Any insight into living in Maine would be helpful, thank you.

I think you could find something close to those numbers here in Maine. I doubt though you would find a BRICK HOME thought for 900. And like any othere state Maine has many different areas to it. Do you want to be in the southern part of the state where there are towns and cities and more job opportunities, "down east" which is down the coast of many in one of its many small towns that mostly cater to summer tourism, ect ect.

I think you should come here for a vist/vacation and see the state and look around to make sure it is what you think it is. Job, housing, and picking a location are not an easy thing anywhere and in Maine have their own issues.

To me Maine is just sooo different. There are a lot of Poor run down areas and you might think your getting a great deal but it might not be what you thought it was once you get here. Pretty much if the area is desirable.... then it will probably be rather expensive. That in itself may be subjective but I think the average person would find it that way once they get here.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by Maineah

100 yards is ON the water in anyone's book! Our Camp is 200 feet from the water with nothing in between....it's on the water....not IN the water. (we can't paddle canoes through the front door in the spring) A duplex is 1/2 a house....your post was misleading as there are NO rents on the coast in Maine for entire houses at $650.00 a month....grow up, admit your misstatement, and move on instead of trying to defend your misguided comments.

In my opinion, "on the water" implies ocean front with nothing obstructing your property and the shoreline, such as a road or other bldgs.

One might own lakefront, or riverfront property which is completely different and is usually listed as such.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

This thread is a perfect example of "buyer beware". Maine has plenty of low priced homes and rentals. There are always reasons for those low prices.

[mainelander]

Originally Posted by Zarathu

In my expereicne, people in Maine are friendly everywhere, but you also need to find a community that is like you. If you move into a conservative community that is very evangelical, and you are a liberal Taoist, while the people may be friendly, you may have touble developing friendships. You need to be like the people that you move to.

Im not sure if I would say friendly everywhere. It has been my experience that you do get some very nice people, but at the same time there is a huge lingering xenophobia in the whole state (not counting coasties who are their owns species).

Im not sure what you would call it, but I have found many mainers exhibit a sort of disagreeableness and entitlement.

An example is I used to know this one lady who was friendly enough but anytime you would make any sort of conversational comment she would just not play ball.

Me -"looks like another rainy day"

Her -"might as well get used to it, its normal"

[sarilhos]

Originally Posted by mainelander

Im not sure if I would say friendly everywhere. It has been my experience that you do get some very nice people, but at the same time there is a huge lingering xenophobia in the whole state (not counting coasties who are their owns species).

Im not sure what you would call it, but I have found many mainers exhibit a sort of disagreeableness and entitlement.

An example is I used to know this one lady who was friendly enough but anytime you would make any sort of conversational comment she would just not play ball.

Me -"looks like another rainy day"

Her -"might as well get used to it, its normal"

That's been my experience. I've lived here my whole life, but since my parents aren't from Maine, I'm "from away". When I visit family in Maryland, strangers might seem rude at first (and might even really be rude), but they're a lot more likely to strike up a real conversation with you, like you've known each other forever. Mainers are more likely to come off as friendly on the surface, but they won't engage in conversation. They're very suspicious of people here, which makes it very hard to make real friends. Also, the hate for tourists here is unreal, even in towns where they depend almost entirely on tourism.

I'm not saying Mainers are all bad people, or that you can't make friends here; it's possible. It's just very difficult.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by mainelander

Im not sure if I would say friendly everywhere. It has been my experience that you do get some very nice people, but at the same time there is a huge lingering xenophobia in the whole state (not counting coasties who are their owns species).

Im not sure what you would call it, but I have found many mainers exhibit a sort of disagreeableness and entitlement.

An example is I used to know this one lady who was friendly enough but anytime you would make any sort of conversational comment she would just not play ball.

Me -"looks like another rainy day"

Her -"might as well get used to it, its normal"

Ahh, you're playing his song here. Zarathu would love you using this word, although he hasn't used it in years now. Personally though, and from what I have seen here, locals are like mirrors: you give us decency and we'll reflect it back. You give us arrogance and condecension and guess what? It comes back. It is sometimes hard to get us into a conversation that you want.

[roadrat]

Before you move here, you really need to have a job lined up or at least 1 more likely 2 years of living expenses saved up, good paying jobs are not plentiful here, hell crappy paying jobs are not plentiful here.
and as far as finding a nice rental home within ear shot of the crashing surf for $900 a month, not likely.

check this site for some home rental prices.
Maine Houses for Rent & Single Family Homes for Rent in Maine - Zillow

bill

[Newdaawn]

sarilhos - perhaps you haven't ever learned that "to make a friend you have to BE a friend". I have never found that people in Maine hate tourists. I have lived here for many years but came from out of state.

[mainelander]

Originally Posted by retiredtinbender

Ahh, you're playing his song here. Zarathu would love you using this word, although he hasn't used it in years now. Personally though, and from what I have seen here, locals are like mirrors: you give us decency and we'll reflect it back. You give us arrogance and condecension and guess what? It comes back. It is sometimes hard to get us into a conversation that you want.

Lol now THATS an old tune ive heard a few times myself. I just dont agree to it.

Don't try to pass it off by saying " oh well the outsider started it.

I understand and respect that a lot of Mainers are proud of the state and cannot fathom it may have some flaws, but at least be honest.

I observed a similar trend down south- I call it hillbilly ignorance "look at mister Northerner with his book learning and indoor plumbing, he thinks he's hot manure". (even though the carpet bagger never said or did one condescending thing, the very act of existing and being from elsewhere is a threatening aspect to mainers.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by mainelander

Lol now THATS an old tune ive heard a few times myself. I just dont agree to it.

Don't try to pass it off by saying " oh well the outsider started it.

I understand and respect that a lot of Mainers are proud of the state and cannot fathom it may have some flaws, but at least be honest.

I observed a similar trend down south- I call it hillbilly ignorance "look at mister Northerner with his book learning and indoor plumbing, he thinks he's hot manure". (even though the carpet bagger never said or did one condescending thing, the very act of existing and being from elsewhere is a threatening aspect to mainers.

It can be threatening to locals just about any state. Living in La. and Ga. I noticed it a lot because of my accent or being in the military. On base it didn't matter because you were all in the same brotherhood. Mainers know there are problems in this state; we have no doubts, no rose colored glasses. But we get upset (and this is just one example) when folks come to get away from where they were and the way things ran and then set about changing things to match their previous location. 95% of this island get along no matter where we are from. But (you knew it was coming) the other 5% couldn't get a long with the Dali Lama. Blanket statements about any population will raise ire. That's just humans, no matter the geography. And using, what we called in the AF, "flag words" like hillbilly sets some off. That and speaking ill of someone and not knowing your talking to their family. Hilarious when that happens.