Deciding between Kennebunk & Greater Portland (Yarmouth, Cumberland, Falmouth) (Scarborough: renting, elementary school)

[cji]

We recently relocated to Maine around the holidays, from RI. Have been lurking/posting here and love the advice and help offered. Find I am turning to this board for help again on deciding what towns to focus on. We have been looking at Cumberland, Falmouth, and Yarmouth for there school systems and close proximity to Portland. We are renting in Kennebunk while we look and are becoming quite happy with the elementary school here. Also like to Main St/Town Center feel. The negative is how far it is from Portland.

What are others thoughts on making this choice. I have such limited knowledge of Maine your input is valuable. In our decision making we are focusing on schools, sense of community, access to grocery stores, coffee shop, library, restaurants,etc, small-town main street feel, a sense of progressiveness yet not snotty/materialism.

Thanks

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by cji

We recently relocated to Maine around the holidays, from RI. Have been lurking/posting here and love the advice and help offered. Find I am turning to this board for help again on deciding what towns to focus on. We have been looking at Cumberland, Falmouth, and Yarmouth for there school systems and close proximity to Portland. We are renting in Kennebunk while we look and are becoming quite happy with the elementary school here. Also like to Main St/Town Center feel. The negative is how far it is from Portland.

What are others thoughts on making this choice. I have such limited knowledge of Maine your input is valuable. In our decision making we are focusing on schools, sense of community, access to grocery stores, coffee shop, library, restaurants,etc, small-town main street feel, a sense of progressiveness yet not snotty/materialism.

Thanks

Those towns sound great. You could add cape elizabeth, and scarborough if you want to. There would only be some minor differances between you first three. Scarborough and the Cape are on the south side of Portland. Scarborough, though very popular, to me does not have that Maine street kind of feel like yarmouth has.

[cji]

That Maine St feel is a real plus and what we would like to find, hence Kennebunk. I do love Yarmouth as well. However not much the market in our price range. Cape E and Scarb were on the list. Took Cape E off because it seems as if it is difficult to get in and out of, also concerned about more than 1 comment from folks about snobbiness and cliques. Scarborough was a real possibility but just can not get over the feel it is growing too fast with no real town center to speak of.