New Hampshire is a great place to retire only if you have money. It’s the kind of place where you can still bump into your neighbors walking down the street, and there’s a strong community spirit that makes it attractive to families. So what’s drawing so many seniors to the Pine Tree state? Also, as Floridians, are we underestimating the misery of a Maine winter? The current average home value across the state of Maine is around $245k, just a little more than the national average of $200k. Check Out These 8 Thrifty Options, How Many Boxes Do I Need To Move? Portland also has a pretty youthful and diverse population, in a state known for its older than average, and mainly white residents. About the Author: Kris Lippi is the owner of ISoldMyHouse.com, the broker of Get LISTED Realty and an official member of the Forbes Real Estate Council. Maine isn’t called Vacationland for nothing. At the same time you are less than two hours' drive from Boston and only four from New York City. 3) A Best Place to Live in Texas: The Woodlands. Bangor, named after the Welsh town all the way across the Atlantic, is a peaceful, low key and friendly city around 2.5 hours north of Portland. The charming cobblestone streets of Portland’s Old Port area are packed with bustling coffee shops, independent breweries and bars, and some fantastic little shopping boutiques. It is known for its dense forests, jagged coastline, picturesque … Lately, the state of Maine has become one of the more popular states to retire in for many reasons, but like any other place, retiring in Maine has … Your email address will not be published. The area also sees a large number of tourists, many of them arriving on cruise ships that dock at the harbor during the warmer months. Prices are rising rapidly though, up around 7.4% in the past year, so if you’re thinking of moving to The Pine Tree State, don’t wait too long or you could miss out on a bargain. To read more about why this gorgeous state has become a place retirees choose to spend the rest of their lives, keep reading.Â, The cost of living in Maine is about 4% lower than that of the United States average, coming in at 96.5. The downtown area, known as “The Peninsula’, is only around 3 miles wide, and extremely walkable since everything is conveniently close together by the water. While real estate can be priced over-market for desirable areas, that only highlights how incredible a region Maine is for residing. Bangor’s most famous resident is the world-famous horror writer, Steven King, who still writes his novels in the tranquil surroundings of his home here today. This is Maine’s favorite ski destination it has a huge system of trails for cross country skiing, but without the crowds that come with most east coast winter sports destinations. Again, Maine comes out on top in New England when it comes to the cost of living. If you’re looking to buy a property here, you can find some great bargains; the median home value is just $160k. Please check your email for our the secrets. Topping this list as the best retirement state is New Hampshire, followed by Colorado and Maine.Florida, Arizona and California … Despite being a relatively compact state, Maine has a huge selection of amazing things to see and do. For example, data from RedFin Data Center reveals that those homes sold in June commanded a $15,167 premium as compared to the average sales price throughout the year. Freeport is well known for is an awesome collection of outlet stores, and is home to the world-famous L.L Bean clothing brand. Let’s face it, Maine gets cold and snowy. NOTE: This is by no means an exhaustive list, and in no particular order of ranking. I worry that the secret of Maine will get out to the rest of the world, but damn – this place is truly unique!”.  Let’s take a look at some of the locals’ favorite towns and cities across the state of Maine. There are all kinds of cuisine here though, and a huge, thriving restaurant scene. Is Retiring in an RV a Good Idea? Nonetheless, it remains a very promising place to retire in and still contends as a sensible place for retirees to settle down.Â. I now feel happier than ever and hope to inspire you to do the same, no matter how old you are. Give you key contact information you will need to help with your quest to find the best state to retire in. If you were planning on keeping monthly costs relatively low for retirement, this might be a huge downside for you.Â, If living in a state with plenty of diversity and culture is essential for you, you will be disappointed to find out that there is not much diversity in the state of Maine. Head further inland from the coastal zone to get a better bargain. For example, the national average monthly food spend is $324, but in Portland, it’s $371, almost $50 more. Retirement in Maine is perfect for outdoorsy souls who enjoy four seasons, lots of shoreline, and an easygoing way of life. In fact, the cost of healthcare in Maine, which factors in the cost of a hospital bed and doctor and dentist visit is only .1% higher than the United States average. A positive feedback loop of isolation. Maine doesn't offer very many opportunities outside of trade work for employment compared to other states, which is fine if you decide to be a plumber or electrician but for someone who isn't … 90% of the state is still covered in forests, even to this day. You’ll find those states listed below, with the pros and cons of each state, gathered from survey results. Maine is the north easternmost state of America. There’s also the famous Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway here, which draws in crowds from all around the state for a Vegas-style experience, in a much more peaceful setting than the Nevada version. For example, if you’re renting in Bangor you’ll pay a pocket-friendly price of $893 per month, but if you head over to downtown Portland, the same size apartment will cost you around $1700 per month. Despite needing to heat your home for much of the year, the average resident in Maine spends around $87 a month on energy, that’s the lowest out of any of the New England states. Check These Articles Out! From the viewpoint of a young adult attempting to adult (horrible term but whatever), I would say the cons far outweigh the pros. Downtown Portland is only 12 miles away, so accessing the city is easy. The median price of a home here is slightly higher than the state average, at around $310k. Maine is famous for having some of the very best seafood in the country, especially lobster. With almost every aspect of the cost of living, which includes but is not limited to housing, transportation, and utilities being cheaper than the United States average as well, the cost of living in Maine is quite affordable for almost anybody.Â, The housing prices in Maine are fairly reasonable, with the median home cost being, , which is slightly lower than the United States Average. Did you know that we can help you save a lot of money when selling your house? (The Truth About Living Here). We Negotiated Discounts With Great Agents. Understanding the possible negative consequences of calling it a career can help you make a better transition from the role of worker to the role of new retiree. Some Of The Coolest Things To Do In Maine. Here you will find a nice balance between the excitement of city living, without the anonymity that can sometimes come with it. The Best States for Retirement The pros and cons of living in Maine (written for $5 by a woman in Florida) The great state of Maine can be beautiful, magnificent and brilliant, but it can also be downright cold, soggy and gray. The state’s majestic forests, rocky shoreline, unbeatable seafood, and opportunities abound. There’s also plenty of waterfront retirement communities, as well as full-service apartments with senior support available. In addition to all of the amazingly low costs in Maine, it also provides you with endless opportunities to see gorgeous scenery and stunning fall foliage. Despite property prices being above the national average, when we compare the prices here to the rest of New England, you get a lot more bang for your buck in Maine. The people up there will say that they look at people from “out of the county” with a closer eye. Kennebunk. Once reading through the pros and cons listed below, you will see for yourself that Arizona offers more of the pros than they offer cons… There are numerous areas dedicated to all kinds of beautiful flowers and plants, as well as a sculpture garden featuring work from local artists. Maybe that’s down to the fact that there’s a slower pace of life up here, far away from the rat race further down the east coast. Maine's summer is made for retired people. Where Is The Best Place To Buy Moving Boxes? Of course, the price you pay depends on the location you choose. Home - The Pros and Cons of Living in Each State - Living in Georgia Pros and Cons. 19 Pros and Cons of Living in New Hampshire June 18, 2019 June 22, 2019 by Louise Gaille New Hampshire is one of the smallest states in the U.S., bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Maine to the East, Vermont … When the time comes for you to retire and settle down in place for the rest of your life, it’s beneficial that you do your research. Pros and Cons of Living in Georgia The Pros or Advantages of Moving to Georgia. There’s also are some incredible beachfront properties, all of which of course, go for a hefty price tag. Exeter is located in southern New Hampshire, just about a half an hour … than that of the United States average, coming in at 96.5. Because it is so big and so varied, you might take a few short trips to thoroughly explore this state … It’s another relatively small community, with around 8000 permanent residents, although things do get busy during the summer months as people flock to the area on vacation. But I saw it as a sign that something had to change in my life.  There are an incredible 3500 miles of rugged Atlantic coastline to explore, stretching from the New Hampshire border to the Canadian province of New Brunswick, and plenty of opportunities for work, business and play. Further Reading: Looking For More Resources About Moving To Maine? The vast amount of forests and stunning look over the east coast can be easily accessed and seen at the Acadia National Park, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful woodland, rocky beaches up close.Â, The assortment of activities to do in your time in Maine is great for amusing both you in your free time and your family, as there is plenty you can do with your family and grandkids when they come and visit.Â, The endless amount of interesting experiences in Maine includes:Â. Mostly summer weather is pleasant. The small city of Yarmouth, home to around 8500 residents, is another coastal satellite community of Portland, popular with commuters to the city. People actually do retire in Maine, although many have an escape plan for January and February for someplace to warm their toes. What are the pros and cons? We wish we could give you that answer, but as we outlined above, there are many pros and cons to consider. There are a lot of things to research before moving to this part of the country. Just north of Yarmouth is the popular tourist town of Freeport. My life was turned upside down a few years ago as I experienced a burn-out. We hope you enjoyed this guide as much as we did writing it, but not as much as you’ll enjoy the state when you visit Maine for yourself. 7 Secrets Realtors Don't Want You To Know About Selling Your House, © 2021 Realty Services Provided By Get Listed Realty, LLC. The cities population is currently about 110,000, but is growing quickly. There’s also a room dedicated to landscape artist Winslow Homer’s incredible paintings of the rugged Maine coastline. Even the cities have a quaint small-town vibe where it’s common to run into people you know in the street or at the grocery store. No one quite knows where Maine got its name from. If you decide to rent rather than buy your home, then you’ll be paying just 6% above the national average, which seems like a pretty fair deal for such a sought after area of the country. The place has a suburban feel to it, with a lot of pretty tree-lined streets and large family homes, but there’s also more opportunity to rent apartments and condos here, compared to its sister town of Cape of Elizabeth. Maine also produces a whopping 99% of all the blueberries in the US. The homes here tend to be quite large, but there are still some cute little cottages that retain the fishing village charm of the area. It’s a really popular place for families, due to its super low crime rate; in fact, recent police statistics showed the number of violent crimes committed here last year was zero. There are some great bars with live music on the weekends, and some of Maine’s best seafood restaurants, as well as tons of great shopping malls and boutiques. and Partners. So is making the move right for you and your family? Unlike Portland, the majority of people here are homeowners and household incomes tend to be high. Let’s take a look at some of the weirder ones from The Pine Tree State. The people tend to be pretty liberal and progressive when it comes to social issues too; Maine has a thriving LGBT scene, especially in Portland. Where To Get Free Moving Boxes? We hope you like lobster, because Maine produces over 40 million pounds of it a year, more than anywhere else in the country. There’s also the famous 40 acre ‘Desert of Maine’ just outside the city limits. Although the good news is that Maine does not tax Social Security Income.Â, It is no secret that the weather in Maine can get fairly cold during the winter months, and the amount of snowfall that typically occurs can be quite high. Portland, Maine: A Great Place to Retire for Your Health An old city bounded by water, Portland offers a small-town feel with big-city amenities, like Maine Medical Center. According to WalletHub, Maine ranks as number 14 in terms of having the best healthcare in the United States, and it surprisingly does not come at too high of a price. If you were planning on keeping monthly costs relatively low for retirement, this might be a huge downside for you.Â, Smart Asset: Maine Retirement Tax Friendliness, Wallet Hub: Best and Worst States for Healthcare, Planetware: 16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Maine, Moving: Here are the 10 safest states in the country. Discuss the pros and cons of each location. But,those who love outdoor winter sports and just plain being active are the ones drawn to Maine. The state comes in at #20 on the list of healthiest states in the country, due in part to an abundance of outdoor activities and diets full of fresh, nutritious food. 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