Possible move to Millinocket area. (East Millinocket, Hope: house prices, unemployment rate, buy)

[Zeke48]

Considering move to the Millinocket area. Would be interested in hearing pros & cons on the area. I.E. town services, taxes, local expenses and acceptance of people from someplace else.

Thanks
Tom

[Northern Maine Land Man]

The unemployment rate is 15.7%. Twelve years ago there were 4,400 good paper industry jobs in the area. Today there are about 500. There are some very good deals on homes in the area if you are bringing your income source with you. As a newcomer needing a job you would be competing against generations of the families who grew up there. Unless you are a doctor, dentist of nurse you'll have tough competition for work.

That said, the town is nice. It's in a great recreation area. There are good services, schools, hospital etc. Taxes are high because the town doesn't have the tax revenue stream they were used to when the mill was running.

[Zeke48]

Thanks for the reply. I would be retired when I relocated so income although not high should be sufficiant. Taxes were one of the things I thought were more then reasonable compared to NJ. I am aware of the plant problems but not able to truly guage the effects from afar. House prices are what attracted me to explore Millinocket. Really wanted the Moosehead or eastport area but too expensive on a fixed income.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

You can buy a very nice home in Millinocket for much less than NJ or elsewhere in Maine. Many retirees are doing just that. There are several churches. East Millinocket taxes a lower because they still have their mill.

[Zeke48]

Got a kick out of your status. After years of Camping and travel in Maine and not running into them I was camping over in seeboomak and hated the little flea things that were bitting me. With their reputation I was expecting something between the size of a bee and an eagle. Same trip I found out a touge and lake trout were the same thing. On the topic of taxes. I know very few people in NJ who pay less a month in taxes then the 1st choice house I am looking at pays for the year. I live in a small converted summer cottage on a small lot and pay over 6,200.00 a year. Yes after years of surfing the net for a place in Maine I stumbled upon the houses in Millinocket and my jaw hit the floor!! There are homes there that are in the are of 1/4 to 1/5 what you would pay for them here. Just don't know much about the town. Other then if you are towing your boat in the North woods and shatter all your taillights and tires on a logger road, Millinocket is the only place to go!!! and you can get to Baxter without those blasted log roads.

Tom

[Submariner]

The Millinocket area is very nice, since you will not be looking for work I imagine that you might enjoy the area.

[Zeke48]

Hope so Talking to a realtor at 10. Still tentative. Lots of things to mull over.

[maineguy8888]

I'd love to retire there. Property is cheap. Gorgeous area. There are some neat things there, too.
Good luck!

[Zeke48]

Thanks. Looks like it will have to be put on hold till late summer early fall.

[cebdark]

Welcome.

Here's a link to peruse the history of Millinocket while you wait.

Millinocket Historical Society - home

Under History there's a good timeline.

I have roots in Little Italy, so Millinocket is near and dear to my heart.