midcoast vs seacoast (Portland, Falmouth, Bath: for sale, real estate market, homes)

[overleaf]

Hi All,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me more about Damariscotta and or Lincoln County in general. I have been reading about the large amount of retirees there is this true? We are a young family.... Also does anyone know anything about Lincoln Academy in Damariscotta? The other places we are looking at are Cumberland and Yarmouth in the sea coast. Do peoples attitudes differ greatly in the midcoast vs. seacoast? Thanks!

[Acadianlion]

Cumberland and Yarmouth are really suburbs of and a part of metropolitan Portland, Maine's largest city. Cumberland has coast line along Casco Bay...the area actually called Cumberland Foreside.

Yarmouth has a charming little village which sits at up the Royal River from Casco Bay.

Both Cumberland and Yarmouth are find Maine towns with their own schools and they enjoy being within easy commute to Portland.

Lincoln County is further up the coast. There is some continuing discussion about what constitutes Maine's "mid coast", but generally I think the mid coast is from Bath which sits on the Kennebec River, to Bucksport, and from there further east is "downeast".

Damariscotta and Wiscasset are both lovely Maine towns, both really up a river as are most Maine towns. And yes, there are quite a few retirees in both of those towns. Neither Damariscotta nor Wiscasset are easy commutes to Portland or other larger towns. They are smaller villages that grow and come to life more in the summer than the colder months, with economies driven by tourism more so than Cumberland and Yarmouth.

[overleaf]

thank you so much for your response acadialion

[moughie]

Acadianlion is wonderful- he tells it truthfully and frankly

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by moughie

Acadianlion is wonderful- he tells it truthfully and frankly

You do make me blush, Moughie! Thanks for your kind comment!

But my disclaimer is that many people think that I am a groucy curmudgeon!

That's true! It's actually a skill developed with many years of practice!

[dramamama6685]

Welcome, Overleaf!!! As anyone can tell you. I'm for the seacoast, Eastport to be exact!

[Oldquarks]

Originally Posted by overleaf

Hi All,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me more about Damariscotta and or Lincoln County in general. I have been reading about the large amount of retirees there is this true? We are a young family.... Also does anyone know anything about Lincoln Academy in Damariscotta? The other places we are looking at are Cumberland and Yarmouth in the sea coast. Do peoples attitudes differ greatly in the midcoast vs. seacoast? Thanks!

I live just over the line in Knox County (my garage is actually in Lincoln County) and am one of those retired folks from away. I taught briefly at Lincoln Academy a few years ago and thought well of the place and the staff. The Headmaster, Jay Pinkerton, is a great person and an outstanding administrator. Like all schools in this day and age, it probably has issues but it has some definite advantages over the usual high school in that it does not have to tolerate as much of the dysfunctional behaviors displayed by some young people due to the fact that it is really a private institution and therefore has tighter control over who may attend. It has some outstanding teachers and programs and is well thought of in the community. I think that it will have fewer issues than other districts nearby with the recent upheaval caused by the state-mandated consolidation.

[cconncooper]

We have lived in the Damariscotta area, South Bristol, for the past seven years and simply love it here!!! Lincoln Academy is a wonderful High School and Damariscotta also has an exceptional grade school (Salt Bay). There are many retirees here, it is true, but also many young families. There is much to do here and it is centered on the coast. The downtown area is lovely, the Damariscotta River is basically the center of town, with a beautiful view of the harbor and down river. There is a movie theater here and many wonderful places to dine in the area. Everyone is very friendly, even to people from "away" as we are!!! I think it is a somewhat liberal community, we are conservatives, but the entire state of Maine is very liberal as we see it! Taxes in Damariscotta are fairly high, we live in an area that is not as heavily taxed, as yet, if your property is near the water you will pay higher taxes. Now is the time to purchase a home here, the real estate market is flat at the moment and there are many wonderful homes for sale. The older homes from the 1800's are beautifully preserved, the town has the look of a different era. We have a great hospital and good doctors here as well, the name of the hospital is Miles Memorial Hospital. All in all, I would highly recommend you coming here and checking it out, we are also close to beautiful ski area like Sunday River and Sugarloaf so there is plenty to do here in the winter. We live right next to a wonderful golf course so there is also that. Hope this has helped, please check us out!!!!!

[Mainer61]

I have heard that Lincoln Academy is an excellent school. There are a lot of families in the Damariscotta area.....not quite as snooty as Falmouth/Cumberland etc.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Mainer61

There are a lot of families in the Damariscotta area.....not quite as snooty as Falmouth/Cumberland etc.

That's my impression as well. Both places are lovely, but Falmouth and Yarmouth definitely seem to cater to the wealthy, whereas Damariscotta and Wiscasset seem more like working class family towns.

Put it like this: Folks in Damariscotta are more likely to have a fishing boat and snowmobile, whereas folks in Yarmouth are more likely to have a yacht.