Rural near Portland? (Westbrook, Gorham, Falmouth: lease, subdivisions, costs)

[Miserable Midwest]

My wife and I are looking at moving to New England in the near future and would like someplace out away from all the subdivisions yet within 45 minutes or so of shopping, entertainment, etc. How far outside of Portland do I have to go to be in a rural town with more affordable land, etc.? By rural I don't necessarily mean isolated, but I don't want to have to see the neighbors every time I go to the mailbox.

My wife's family is from Gloucester, Mass but we want to be further North away from the traffic, congestion and high housing costs of MA. I really like what I've read about the Portland area so far. We'd like to be within a 3-hour drive of the Boston-Gloucester area.

[MRVphotog]

Cumberland is very rural surrounded by farmland. The crud from Falmouth started to creep towards us but the town purchased several farms then leased them back to the families so they will remain farmland.

It takes me about 20/25 min to be in downtown Portland from the northwest. directly south along the coast forget about it but north it gets pretty rural after Falmouth between the various towns. To the west it's alittle further after you get beyond Westbrook and Gorham, maybe 45min.

[bigchuckie]

Check out Parsonfield Hiram areas out far enough but close enough

[moughie]

[quote=MRVphotog;1252947]Cumberland is very rural surrounded by farmland. The crud from Falmouth started to creep towards us but the town purchased several farms then leased them back to the families so they will remain farmland.

Haha= You mean all those Volvos filled with super achievers and overweight retrievers????!!!!