Family Moving to Freeport

[JimG2]

RX4.... what are the anchor businesses in Portland and Augusta? Saw the shipyard up in Bath. Consider that I live in a state that is shedding anchor businesses (Aetna insurance, GE, Alexion Pharmaceutical, Pfizer) and shedding population. The $60-$100k full time jobs that leave get replaced with $12 per hour part time retail jobs. Real estate here is stagnant with a median house price of $260k. There are towns with less expensive houses, but you probably don't want to have kids in the school system. So hanging around Freeport, I didn't see any business or industry other than retail. Schools and healthcare are usually good bets, but without those anchor industries that support slightly smaller major industries where a couple combined are solidly in six figures, how does anyone get by up there?

[Rx4Maine]

Originally Posted by JimG2

RX4.... what are the anchor businesses in Portland and Augusta? Saw the shipyard up in Bath. Consider that I live in a state that is shedding anchor businesses (Aetna insurance, GE, Alexion Pharmaceutical, Pfizer) and shedding population. The $60-$100k full time jobs that leave get replaced with $12 per hour part time retail jobs. Real estate here is stagnant with a median house price of $260k. There are towns with less expensive houses, but you probably don't want to have kids in the school system. So hanging around Freeport, I didn't see any business or industry other than retail. Schools and healthcare are usually good bets, but without those anchor industries that support slightly smaller major industries where a couple combined are solidly in six figures, how does anyone get by up there?

Those are good questions. I can't answer with certainty on what the core industries are in Augusta and Portland. However, Augusta provides government and healthcare options and Portland has plenty of healthcare opportunities as well as finance, insurance, education, and a myriad of small businesses. I don't know if the port is a strong employer (maybe someone else can answer that).

Freeport is mainly known for its outlets and LL bean. I'm sure there are people who work in retail who also live in Freeport but that would not be the majority since, like you said, it's mainly seasonal full time work which would make it difficult or homeownership. It's not uncommon for people to commute up to an hour each way in Maine since it's a large state (by NE standards) so Portland and Augusta from Freeport would be considered an easy commute.