Lewiston-Auburn Maine relocation (Portland: apartments, crime rate, homes)

[apacker]

My husband is currently interviewing for a job in Lewiston, ME. We are empty-nesters located in southcentral PA used to quick access to city life in D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Harrisburg, PA. Even though we love living in a college town surrounded by National Park land, the job offer is too good to ignore. Having never been to Maine, does anyone have a suggestion where to look for a home in the area with specialty shops, theater, nice restaurants? I have read all the threads for the area but most regard families with children still at home. In our area one of the most desirable locations is around the college..is it the same for Bates College?

[pobskin]

This is certainly a late response and you may never see it, but I am a bates college student from southern md. Many professors live in the portland area some even in falmouth. I would recommend portland, it is worth the commute.

[marph1]

Living in Portland is fine if you want to pay double for the value of your home and pay the soon-to-be rising gas prices (do we really believe they will stay below $2.00 a gallon!!). There are some great homes and great values in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Do not overlook what the area has to offer relative to culture, arts and dining (Bates College Schaeffer Theater/Olin Arts Center, Franco-American Heritage performing arts center, L-A Public Theater, Fuel and Fishbones Restaurants for starters). This area is the new "hot" area in Central Maine for livability and development (both commercial and residential).

[lrfox]

^Again, I can't emphasize enough how we shouldn't knock the cost of homes and apartments in Portland. It's REALLY not bad at all given what you have access to and where it's located (on the coast) as well as the nearly non-existent crime rate. Yes, the commute is a bit further (40 minutes or so to Lewiston... traffic is not an issue), but it's not a bad deal.

I'll be the first to support Lewiston/Auburn. The place gets a REALLY bad rap even though it doesn't deserve one (crime rate is VERY low, even lower than Portland's); but it's not THAT much cheaper for a home in Lewiston than it is in Portland and Portland offers a little more. Lewiston has potential, and has made significant progress; but it's not Portland.

For comparison's sake, Harrisburg is similar in size to Portland (Portland's got about 63,000 and Harrisburg has close to 50,000... Harrisburg's Metro is SLIGHTLY larger at about 510,000 than Portland's 490,000) and has similar artistic and cultural offerings. Portland has the ocean, so depending on what you're into, Portland may have an advantage in the natural category. D.C. (I used to live right outside of DC in Kensington, MD) is obviously on a whole different planet than Portland, but Boston is conveniently located 2 hours South of Portland and can take the "urban edge" off when you need your fix (it still falls a bit short of DC in art, music, theater, dining, etc... but not sports in my opinon).

In the end, Lewiston has som character and potential. It's nowhere near as bad of a place as some may make it out to be; but the bulk of your arts and culture will be locally found in Portland.

[island mermaid]

I'm thinking the OP didn't get the job.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by island mermaid

I'm thinking the OP didn't get the job.

i hear they are hiring in vassalboro..........

[lrfox]

Whoops didnt check the date before I posted.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

i hear they are hiring in vassalboro..........

(pot stirrer)

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

i hear they are hiring in vassalboro..........

Also overlooked that comment...

I don't know what OP's..umm...."credentials" are, but it may be a possibility. I hear they're pretty laid back when it comes to education... turns out, 2 "D"s is actually a good thing and may get you a job in vassalboro... they never told me THAT in 8th grade math.

[heathharlan]

Portland is expensive. Lewiston is cheaper and closer enough to Portland to commute for its amenities, not that Lewiston has that much more than LA East.