What is the best town in Southern Maine?

There is no single best town — there is a best town for you. Families often choose Scarborough, Saco, Gorham, or Kennebunk for schools and recreation. Commuters lean toward Saco, Biddeford, South Portland, and Scarborough for quick Portland access. Beach lovers pick Ogunquit, Wells, York, or Kennebunkport. Retirees often land in Kennebunk, Wells, Saco, or Scarborough for walkability and healthcare.

Is Southern Maine expensive?

Coastal Southern Maine is meaningfully cheaper than Greater Boston and much of coastal Massachusetts, but it is no longer cheap. Towns like Kennebunkport, Cape Elizabeth, and Ogunquit are the most expensive. Saco, Biddeford, Sanford, Westbrook, and Gorham still offer real value, especially compared to similar-distance Boston suburbs.

What are property taxes like in Maine?

Maine property taxes are levied at the municipal level and vary widely by town. Mill rates typically range from roughly $10 to $20 per $1,000 of assessed value across Southern Maine. Maine offers a Homestead Exemption that reduces taxable value for primary residences. Always verify current rates and exemptions with the specific town assessor.

How bad are Maine winters?

Coastal Southern Maine winters are milder than people expect — moderated by the Atlantic. Expect snow, but also mild stretches and dramatic winter beaches. Inland towns like Sanford, Gorham, and Windham get more snow and cold. Modern heat pumps, good insulation, and a generator make winter living comfortable, and the slower season is one of the best things about Maine.

Is Southern Maine a good place to retire?

Yes — Southern Maine is one of the strongest retirement destinations on the East Coast. Walkable downtowns, excellent healthcare anchored by MaineHealth and MaineGeneral, low crime, the Atlantic coast, and a slower year-round rhythm draw retirees from across the Northeast. Kennebunk, Wells, Saco, Scarborough, and York are popular retirement towns.

How far is Southern Maine from Boston?

Southern Maine is roughly 60 to 100 miles from Boston. Kittery is about an hour from Logan; the Kennebunks are about 90 minutes; Portland is about 2 hours via I-95. The Amtrak Downeaster also runs from Boston North Station to Portland with stops in Wells, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach.

What is the safest town in Southern Maine?

Southern Maine in general has very low crime rates compared to the U.S. average. Cape Elizabeth, Kennebunk, Scarborough, and the Berwicks consistently rank among the safest towns in Maine, but most Southern Maine communities post strong public-safety numbers.

Can I work remotely from Southern Maine?

Yes. Southern Maine has reliable high-speed fiber and cable internet across nearly every town, growing co-working scenes in Portland, Biddeford, and Kennebunk, and easy access to Portland Jetport and Boston Logan when you need to fly. The relocation wave since 2020 has been heavily driven by remote-first professionals.

What should I know before moving to Maine?

Plan for four real seasons, budget for winter heating and a generator, look closely at each town's mill rate and school district, and visit in February as well as July. Inventory is tight, so working with a local REALTOR® who knows the towns — not just the listings — makes a big difference.

The 2026 Relocation Guide

Moving to Southern Maine

Everything you need to know about living, working, retiring, and buying real estate in Southern Maine.

Explore Southern Maine Communities Browse Homes for Sale

Why people move here

Why Southern Maine, and why now.

Over the last five years, Southern Maine has quietly become one of the most desirable relocation destinations in the Northeast. Buyers from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are trading congestion and cost for a working coastline, walkable downtowns, real seasons, and a genuine sense of community.

What pulls people here is hard to fake — three of New England's best public beaches in Kennebunk, a James-Beard food scene in Biddeford and Portland, a mill-revival downtown in Saco, marshes and a 15-minute commute in Scarborough, and quiet lake towns like Windham and Gorham within easy reach of Portland Jetport and Logan. You also get Acadia foothills, the western mountains, and Boston all within a day's drive.

This guide is the long version — written for relocation buyers, retirees, second-home buyers, remote workers, and families seriously evaluating a move. Use it to compare towns, understand the real costs, and shortlist where you might land. When you're ready, talk to Bill.

Section 1

Cost of Living in Southern Maine

Southern Maine is more affordable than coastal Massachusetts and on par with — or below — Southern New Hampshire on most household line items. Housing is the biggest variable: coastal Kennebunkport, Cape Elizabeth, and Ogunquit price like Boston suburbs, while Sanford, Biddeford, and Saco still offer real value.

Category	Southern Maine	Greater Boston	Southern NH
Median home price	$450K–$700K	$750K–$1.2M+	$525K–$725K
Property tax (effective)	~1.0%–1.6%	~1.0%–1.4%	~1.7%–2.2%
State income tax	Yes, graduated	Yes, ~5%	No (on wages)
Electricity	Higher than U.S. avg	Similar	Similar
Groceries	Near U.S. avg	+10–15%	Near U.S. avg
Healthcare access	Strong (MaineHealth)	Excellent	Strong
Auto insurance	Among lowest in U.S.	Higher	Lower

Explore the towns where buyers see the biggest value-per-dollar today: Saco, Biddeford, Sanford, Scarborough, and Portland.

Section 2

Best Towns for Families in Southern Maine

Schools, recreation, and short commutes do most of the work for relocating families. These six towns combine strong public school districts, real outdoor amenities, and family-friendly housing inventory.

Town	Schools	Commute to Portland	Housing
Saco	Thornton Academy	~20 min	Historic + new builds
Scarborough	Highly rated SBSD	~15 min	Family subdivisions
Gorham	Strong, USM nearby	~25 min	Capes, colonials
Windham	RSU 14	~30 min	Lake-access homes
Kennebunk	RSU 21 (top-rated)	~35 min	Village + coastal
South Portland	SoPo Schools	~10 min	In-town + waterfront

York County

Saco

Historic Main Street, mill-district revival, and a short walk to the beach.

Explore Saco

Cumberland County

Scarborough

Beaches, marshes, and a 15-minute commute to Portland.

Explore Scarborough

Cumberland County

Gorham

Walkable village, USM, and a true Portland-commuter sweet spot.

Explore Gorham

Cumberland County

Windham

Sebago Lake access, growing schools, and 20 minutes to Portland.

Explore Windham

York County

Kennebunk

Sea-captain homes, Dock Square, and the postcard Maine coast.

Explore Kennebunk

Cumberland County

South Portland

Willard Beach, Knightville, and the easiest commute into Portland.

Explore South Portland

Section 3

Best Beach Towns in Southern Maine

Southern Maine's beach corridor runs from York up to Scarborough — soft sand, working harbors, and year-round villages that don't board up after Labor Day. These six are the ones serious buyers shortlist.

York County

Ogunquit

Marginal Way, the Playhouse, and a three-mile sand beach.

Explore Ogunquit

York County

Wells

Seven miles of beach, the Wells Reserve, and Route 1 antiques.

Explore Wells

York County

York

York Beach, the Nubble Light, and four historic villages.

Explore York

York County

Kennebunkport

Working harbor, Walker's Point, and Goose Rocks Beach.

Explore Kennebunkport

York County