Moving to Maine? Discover cold winters, spectacular summers and living the way life should be
Last Modified: December 29, 2025
Are you tired of reading Maine moving guides that feel more like geography textbooks, stuffed with census stats and no personality? Life in Maine can't be summed up with weather charts (insider tip: that's not fire smoke, it's fog) or simple demographic stats (since they'd obviously miss the nuance of: preferring the inland life to one on the coast). If you love cool summer mornings, an endless run of county fairs, or pine-scented mountain bike rides with zero cell bars, Vacationland might just be calling you home. Our playful and witty moving guide will prepare you for the good (Like car mechanics who tell you what they'd do in your shoes) and the bad (summer traffic, homelessness), so you'll actually know what it's REALLY like to live, work, and play in Maine.
Snappy Summary: Expect long winters, tourist traffic (especially on weekends), fewer jobs, limited transit, and high coastal housing costs. You move to Maine for the rugged coast and big woods, fresh seafood, and friendly, safe towns. The saving grace: a slower pace that ultimately wins people over.
Hey, I'm Greg
I moved to Maine before it was trendy, stayed when it got crowded, and 28 years later I still love it. I grew up here, went to UMaine, tried Connecticut, and survived eight years in Virginia before eventually packing up and moving back home. I’m a former newspaper copy editor, pizza lover (Portland Pie, OTTO, and Cargo regular), and family man. At Snappy Scout, I help newcomers decode Maine—a place that plays by its own rules and usually keeps them to itself.
Greg ReidMaine Local ExpertThe Inside Scoop on Maine Cities
Major Cities In A Nutshell
Portland
Portland is perfect for: walkable life, breweries, steady jobs, salty breezes
Best known for: lighthouses, lobster, and restaurants you actually revisit
City as a personality: tattooed barista with a sailboat and MBA
Locals live here because: career options, coastal calm, restaurants that remember you
Nothing's more Portland than: strangers pushing your car out of a snowbank
Home sweet home in Portland is like: triple-deckers, fenced-in micro yards for the doggo
Don't say we didn't warn you about: housing prices climbing like milfoil on your boat
Local fashion forecast: Bean boots, flannel, rain shell, knit beanie
Read More: a moving to Portland guide that's worth your time.
Bangor
Bangor, perfect for: space to breathe, cheaper houses, northern gateway vibes
Well known for: Stephen King sightings and Waterfront concert nights
Bangor in human form is: friendly neighbor with snowblower and endless dad jokes
Move here for: affordability, airport convenience, slower pace, easy parking
Locals swear by: high school basketball, UMaine hockey, and Whoopie pie debates
Your housing options here are: capes and ranches, big yards, river views
The downsides are: winter sticks around and black flies gossip
What you'll wear most often: UMaine swag, wool hats, flannel forever
Augusta
Augusta is perfect for: policy nerds, quick commutes, quiet neighborhoods
Widely recognized as the place for: statehouse hustle and diner-fueled negotiations
If Augusta were a person, it'd be: practical civil servant with a pickup you can use
Locals live here because: government jobs, central base, easy school dropoffs
Locals know best: Kennebec River walks and relentless yard sale circuits
Housing vibe: : ranches, capes, and sensible split levels
Be prepared for: nightlife calling it quits by 9
The dress code here is: business casual with snow boots and a Red Sox cap
Lewiston-Auburn
Lewiston-Auburn is perfect for: families wanting space, commuters, mill grit, cheap eats
Best known for: twin city pride, Franco roots, cultural diversity
Lewiston-Auburn in human form is: blue collar poet carrying lunch pail and latte
Move here if you want: cheaper mortgages, quick commutes, hardworking neighbors
Nothing's more Lewiston-Auburn than: La Rencontre chatter and high school hockey
Home sweet home in Lewiston-Auburn is like: triple-deckers, riverfront lofts, backyard grills
Don't be surprised. We warned you that: Locals love their annual hot-air balloon festival
Local fashion forecast: work boots, flannels, game day scarf
Biddeford-Saco
Biddeford-Saco, perfect for: creatives chasing lofts, families eyeing beaches
Well known for: revived mills, Franco-American heritage, salty morning air
If Biddeford-Saco were a person, it'd be: former car salesperson turned startup founder
Move here for: commuter access, ocean breezes, decent prices
Locals know best: Pizza By Alex takeout, Palace Diner breakfasts
Your housing options here are: red brick lofts, beach cottages, suburban boxes
The downside to Biddeford-Saco is: summer traffic and winter wind tunnels
What you'll wear most often: sandals June, Bean boots December
Brunswick
Brunswick is perfect for: culture vultures, sailors, stroller brigades, quiet evenings
Widely recognized as the place for: Bowdoin brainpower and calm coastal routines
City as a personality: cardiganed professor who sails on Saturdays
Locals live here because: schools, village vibe, rail station convenience
Locals swear by: farmers market chatter and Wild Oats Bakery
Housing vibe: historic capes, leafy streets, modest colonials
Be prepared for: alumni weekends and grown-up property taxes
The dress code here is: Birkenstocks with socks, Lululemon, tasteful puffer vests
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is perfect for: seasonal hustle, selling to cruise ship passengers, winter hush, granite calves, and the best coffee you'll ever drink.
Best known for: island living, majestic estates called summer cottages, and stubbornly scenic commutes
Bar Harbor in human form is: A fit, heavily tattooed park ranger with a degree in architectural design, moonlighting as a bartender
Move here if you want: to see the snow kiss the ocean, tight community, seasonal work, stargazing nights
Nothing's more Bar Harbor than: a Volvo parked next to a Range Rover parked next to a BMW next to a 2007 Subaru.
Home sweet home in Bar Harbor is like: shingled cottages, tiny apartments, accessory dwellings
Don't be surprised. We warned you that: summer crowds, winter quiet, rental squeeze
Local fashion forecast: trail runners, aviator sunglasses, Baja hoodies
Explore Maine City Moving Guides
Start with a city below and go deeper into city-level insights and detailed neighborhood breakdowns.
Eat Like a Local
Forget your grinder, sub sandwich, or hoagie. This form of nourishment is called "an Italian." Hot or cold. Open-faced or closed. It's an Italian. Meatball sandwich? Meatball Italian. Veggie grinder? Veggie Italian. Italian sub? You guessed it: Italian Italian.
Greg ReidMaine Local Expert
Fun Facts
Fun Facts You Might Not Have Known About Maine
Think you really know Maine? No, in summer, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone chowing down a lobster roll. Yes, Moxie is a soda that ... shall we say, is an acquired taste. And where moose sightings are essentially an idea cooked up by the state chamber of commerce. Let's run through the facts, stats, and fog folklore that showcase what makes Maine's rugged reputation irresistible.
- Common nicknames for Maine: The Pine Tree State, Vacationland
- Local Reality Check: Yes, snowy winters. But also sunny summers (the best two weeks of the year). There's our rocky coastline, deep forests and thriving Portland food scene.
- You're most likely moving from: Boston suburbs, New Hampshire, New York.
- Strangely large concentration of: Lighthouses, lobster shacks, weed shops, Subarus, Renys, L.L.Bean boots, and Labrador retrievers.
- Music scene: In summer, nonestop shows (indie and popular) at Thompson's Point, the State Theatre and the Merrill. Bangor waterfront shows, Maritime folk, contra dances, All Roads Music Festival.
- You'll have to see it to believe it: Cadillac Mountain sunrise in Acadia, among America's first winter sunrises.
- Unique Geography: Rocky Atlantic coast, 3,478 miles of shoreline, North Woods, 4000 foot peaks, bold bays.
- Maine is home to: Acadia National Park, L.L.Bean Freeport flagship store, Portland Head Light, UMaine Black Bears.
- Well known for its: Friendly people, lobster rolls, whoopie pies, blueberries, craft breweries, rugged coastlines, cabin getaways.
- Fun history fact: Became the 23rd state by separating from Massachusetts in 1820 via Missouri Compromise.
- Celebrity sightings: Stephen King around Bangor, Patrick Dempsey in Lewiston, Anna Kendrick Portland visits.
- Noteworthy Census stat: Oldest median age in the U.S., per Census, small but growing population.
- Most interesting sub-cultures within Maine: Lobstermen fleet culture, traps as Christmas tree art, the Portland Hearts of Pine soccer phenomenon, islanders commuting by mailboat.
- Population: 42nd by population, 39th by land size
- Maine is roughly the same geographic size as: Portugal
Locals Know Best
Admit only if asked that you grew up in Massachusetts, and never flip off anyone in traffic. It probably is your kid's science teacher. Who grew up in Massachusetts.
Greg ReidMaine Local ExpertMost Likely Personalities to Love (or Hate) Maine
Is Maine right for me? If you're an outdoors junkie, craft beer fan, or foodie, you'll trade cubicles for cliffs, taprooms, and hot buttered lobster. If you're a binge shopper, cowboy, or Wall Street exec, you'll crave outlet malls and sunshine more than lighthouses and flannel.
Personality Fit Guide
| Personality | % | Recommended Cities | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoors Junkie | 95% | Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, Katahdin | Katahdin climbs, Acadia ridgelines, whitewater on Kennebec. |
| Craft Beer Fan | 93% | Portland, Biddeford | Allagash tours, Bissell Brothers cans, hoppy heaven. |
| Foodie | 91% | Portland, Rockland | Eventide oysters, Primo indulgence, lobster rolls everywhere. |
| Coffee Snob | 89% | Portland, Biddeford | Tandem cortados, Bard pulls, Speckled Ax roasts. |
| Farmer's Market Regular | 87% | Portland, Brunswick | Portland Farmers Market in Deering Oaks, Brunswick winter market bounty. |
| Hipster | 86% | Portland East Bayside, Biddeford | Portland Flea For All, artists filling Biddeford mills. |
| Dog Momma | 84% | Portland, South Portland | Eastern Promenade walkies, Willard Beach romps. |
| DIYer | 82% | Lewiston, Biddeford | Mill loft rehabs, Marden's hauls, fixer-uppers with good bones everywhere. |
| Homesteader | 81% | Unity, Dover-Foxcroft | Organic gardening roots, cheap acreage, hearty winters build grit. |
| Garden Club Lifetime Member | 80% | Boothbay, Falmouth | Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, lilacs thrive, garden tours. |
| College Student | 79% | Orono, Brunswick, Waterville, Portland | UMaine hockey, Bowdoin quads, Colby museum free, UNE health sciences campus |
| Retired Snowbird | 77% | Kennebunkport, Camden | Blissful summers, then head south after Fryeburg Fair. |
| Minimalist | 74% | Portland, Belfast | Small spaces, clean lines, Casco Bay horizon clears clutter. |
| CrossFit Regular | 72% | Portland, Bangor | Winter WODs, Tough Mountain and Wife-Carrying comps |
| Stay at Home Mom | 71% | Falmouth, Yarmouth, Scarborough | Top schools, Sea Dogs nights, easy beach days. |
| Vintage Thrifter | 70% | Portland, Brunswick | Portland Architectural Salvage, Cabot Mill Antiques hauls. |
| Yoga Instructor | 68% | Portland, Camden | Sunrise flows at Portland Head Light, mellow harbors. |
| PTA President | 66% | Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Yarmouth | Beach to Beacon 10K, Yarmouth Clam Festival, Falmouth Fall Classic. |
| Gamer | 60% | Bangor, Orono | Bangor Comic & Toy Con, Orono LANs, decent fiber. |
| Retired Military | 58% | Kittery, Augusta, Brunswick | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard nearby, Togus VA, welcoming towns. |
| Surfer Dude | 46% | Higgins Beach, Ogunquit | Cold swells, short summers, but stoke at Higgins. |
| Beach Bum | 42% | Old Orchard Beach, Wells | Old Orchard boardwalk fun, chilly water, narrow beaches at tide. |
| Tech Bro | 39% | Portland, Brunswick | Remote friendly Portland startups, fewer unicorns than Kendall Square. |
| Wall Street Exec | 28% | Portland | Finance gigs exist, but Old Port lacks Manhattan velocity. |
| Cowboy | 26% | Aroostook County, Fryeburg | Fryeburg Fair livestock thrills, few open ranges or rodeos. |
| Binge Shopper | 24% | Kittery, Freeport, Portland | Outlets scratch itch, limited luxury spree, thrifting bonanza |
What Makes Maine Feel Like Home
The welcoming nature of the people in Maine. It doesn't matter who your father was, where you went to college, or what you did for work wherever it was you came from. You're here now. So look someone in the eye, smile, and say something friendly. Most people will respond in kind. After about 5 minutes of chatting, they'll treat you like an old friend. After 10, they'll offer you their truck when you need one. It really is OK if you come from Massachusetts. Just don't act like it.
Greg ReidMaine Local Expert
Things To Do
Fun Things to Do Around Maine
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Maine? If you like the idea of paddling rugged coasts, hiking Acadia, and antiquing in small towns, Maine is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from crashing surf to piney peaks and give you a taste of Maine's coastal charm and wild beauty.
- Go Outside & Hike: Summit Katahdin via Knife Edge in Baxter State Park
- This is the scenic ride for you: Acadia's Park Loop Road is ocean overlooks and stone bridges
- Spend Time on the Water cooling off: Kayak Portland Harbor to Fort Gorges
- This is the Iconic Road Trip to take: What to drive? Route 1 lighthouses York to Lubec
- Maybe you should go chasing waterfalls: Chase Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park
- This is what locals do on the weekends: Portland, browse farmers market then brewery hop Old Port waterfront, take in a minor-league baseball, basketball, hockey, or soccer game
- It's Fall: Leaf peep Rangeley Lakes Byway at Height of Land overlook
- During the short days of Winter: Ski Sugarloaf or Sunday River, warm up with chowder
- Stargaze in desolate dark nights: Northern Maine is galaxies at Katahdin Woods and Waters
- Pick your own farm to table fare: Down East is blueberry picking in August, Machias to Lubec
Hidden Gem Spotlight
Spending a summer day hiking the roads and trails of Monhegan Island, a longtime artist's colony that is barely one square mile around and ten miles off the coast. Catch the boat from Port Clyde, New Harbor, or Boothbay Harbor.
Greg ReidMaine Local ExpertTaxes, Politics & People
The Essential Maine Trifecta
State Income Tax: Progressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
Property Taxes: Highest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
Maine politics are: Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
Mainers are: Yankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
The religious breakdown is: Mostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
Weather
Maine Weather: All the Facts, None of the Stats
Don't like the weather? Just wait 10 minutes. Autumns are brilliant as the leaves turn. Winters are long and temperamental. Springs are wet and muddy. Summers are spectacular. Here's what else is going on around Maine that will impact the time you spend outside.
- Summer temps be like: beach day needs a hoodie (sea breeze chills the coast, inland towns flirt with ninety)
- Winter lows are: nostril freezing theater (Aroostook goes full deep freeze, Portland stays slushy and stubborn)
- The humidity makes me: feel like I washed my face with a pizza
- Unique weather patterns: Nor'easters, pea soup fog and sea smoke, surprise snow squalls, April mud season that eats Subarus, leaf crunch glory by October
- Local weather fashion tip: Bean boots with everything, fleece in July, slicker beats umbrella on the pier
- Bugs be like: black flies in tiny bomber jackets, mosquitoes auditioning for state bird, ticks lurking on every blade of grass
- You're stuck indoors again today because: nor'easter whiteout and snapping limbs outside, the power just shrugged and left
- Green thumb enthusiasts love: wild blueberries on the barrens, lupines along Route 1, seaweed mulch in raised beds, tomatoes sulk but potatoes grin
- Your friend with allergies is always saying: pine pollen dusted my car again, ragweed owns fall, browntail moth is a personal vendetta
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Maine
Winter: Hiking with my dog over snow-covered trails, biting cold morning air
Spring: Watching the sun rise a little earlier each day, the sudden eruption of greenery in May
Summer: Outdoor concerts, Portland Hearts of Pine soccer matches, kids playing outside til dusk
Fall: Exploring Casco Bay Islands, sampling pumpkin-spiced brews
Greg ReidMaine Local Expert