Anyone live in Maine?

[Shreddy Mercury]

I posted this in another section of this and apparently it's not too busy. Does anyone on here live in Maine that may be able to answer some questions about living up there for me? I may relocate for work so I'm curious.

 

[T.V.]

I posted this in another section of this and apparently it's not too busy. Does anyone on here live in Maine that may be able to answer some questions about living up there for me? I may relocate for work so I'm curious.

Where in Maine are you thinking?

 

[japetus]

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

The locations I'd be likely moving to would be in either Lewiston or Wilton. There was an opportunity in Portland but one of the managers up there tells me that's the pricey part of town. Just checking Realtor.com prices, I could see how Portland was pricey. Unless that area isn't too far from actually affordable little towns where a commute wouldn't be bad.

I've been seeing some GORGEOUS old fashioned houses around those 2 mentioned areas and the prices are almost suspiciously low. Granted, they are late 19th century homes, some early 20th century, and will likely need tinkering here and there. Apparently, a big expense of living up there is heating oil and most of the homes I was just seeing were available ran heating oil systems.

 

[japetus]

The locations I'd be likely moving to would be in either Lewiston or Wilton. There was an opportunity in Portland but one of the managers up there tells me that's the pricey part of town. Just checking Realtor.com prices, I could see how Portland was pricey. Unless that area isn't too far from actually affordable little towns where a commute wouldn't be bad.

I've been seeing some GORGEOUS old fashioned houses around those 2 mentioned areas and the prices are almost suspiciously low. Granted, they are late 19th century homes, some early 20th century, and will likely need tinkering here and there. Apparently, a big expense of living up there is heating oil and most of the homes I was just seeing were available ran heating oil systems.

Where are you from now? Do you like winter?

 

[T.V.]

The locations I'd be likely moving to would be in either Lewiston or Wilton. There was an opportunity in Portland but one of the managers up there tells me that's the pricey part of town. Just checking Realtor.com prices, I could see how Portland was pricey. Unless that area isn't too far from actually affordable little towns where a commute wouldn't be bad.

I've been seeing some GORGEOUS old fashioned houses around those 2 mentioned areas and the prices are almost suspiciously low. Granted, they are late 19th century homes, some early 20th century, and will likely need tinkering here and there. Apparently, a big expense of living up there is heating oil and most of the homes I was just seeing were available ran heating oil systems.

Lewiston isn’t great. There are other towns equal distance from Portland that are better. Lewiston has been a bit of a dead town for a couple decades. It has been on the upswing. Good variety of restaurants. Still not ideal.

 

[T.V.]

Also, inland southern Maine property isn’t expensive. The sales tax and state income tax is where your money goes.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

I live in Chattanooga, TN. I like winter, and cold doesn't really bother me that much. Granted, the coldest it gets to down here is usually around low 20s for 15 or 20 days out of the winter, but not necessarily all in a row. On average, winter hovers around 25-35, but I wear shorts year round. I'm sure it's significantly colder up there, and for longer periods. My friend said my balls will be like groundhog day, they won't come back out of my body until a certain time of year lol

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Also, inland southern Maine property isn’t expensive. The sales tax and state income tax is where your money goes.

Just checking Google maps, I could see that Lewiston wasn't terribly far from Portland, it wouldn't be that bad of a commute, and more $ stands to be made in Portland due to it being a nicer part of town. However, Wilton to Portland is too long of a drive. I liked some of the houses that Realtor showed in Lewiston, and that's where most of the job opportunities are with the company.

I saw they have a nearly 8% income tax and like a 5.5% sales tax. TN has no income tax and a 9.25% tax rate, so TN is fairly affordable. I checked how much it costs to live in Maine and it showed a single person with no kids could live on about 36k a year and the opportunity I'd really like would pay about 64k a year (Wilton) and the nicer one in Portland will pay likely closer to 70k or maybe a little more a year. The opportunities in Lewiston would likely pay around 55 to 60k a year.

 

[T.V.]

Just checking Google maps, I could see that Lewiston wasn't terribly far from Portland, it wouldn't be that bad of a commute, and more $ stands to be made in Portland due to it being a nicer part of town. However, Wilton to Portland is too long of a drive. I liked some of the houses that Realtor showed in Lewiston, and that's where most of the job opportunities are with the company.

I saw they have a nearly 8% income tax and like a 5.5% sales tax. TN has no income tax and a 9.25% tax rate, so TN is fairly affordable. I checked how much it costs to live in Maine and it showed a single person with no kids could live on about 36k a year and the opportunity I'd really like would pay about 64k a year (Wilton) and the nicer one in Portland will pay likely closer to 70k or maybe a little more a year. The opportunities in Lewiston would likely pay around 55 to 60k a year.

Lewiston is still struggling to get out of its rundown, abandoned mill town stage. It’s getting there. But it’s still a little dumpy. In the positive, they are making progress renovating the old mills and putting condos, businesses, restaurants, and artisans in there.

 

[T.V.]

Any of the towns bordering NH will be as close to Portland AND you can do all your shopping tax free. South/North Berwick, Elliot, Kittery (a little more pricey).

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Lewiston is still struggling to get out of its rundown, abandoned mill town stage. It’s getting there. But it’s still a little dumpy. In the positive, they are making progress renovating the old mills and putting condos, businesses, restaurants, and artisans in there.

With a guesstimated hourly + overtime (if I take a position in the Lewiston area) of roughly 65k a year before taxes, is that enough to live somewhat comfortably in Lewiston do you think? Or any of the smaller towns near it? If I move up that way, I'm hoping to find a town that isn't CRAZY overpopulated with way too many damn millennial and hipster scum like what has taken over Chattanooga. I really dig smaller towns with less traffic and an old fashioned downtown where you can park on the street and walk to the boutiques, mom n' pops restaurants, etc. Chattanooga isn't huge, but the areas surrounding it are just so overpacked with yankees who moved down here once they found out it was cheap to live and we never closed for covid.

 

[T.V.]

too many damn millennial and hipster scum

Lewiston is going to be a mixed bag of folks struggling to make ends meet, millennials and hipsters, and Somalians.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Well if Lewiston is where I end up, as long as they leave my southern libertarian gun toting ass alone, I'll be fine.

 

[T.V.]

Well if Lewiston is where I end up, as long as they leave my southern libertarian gun toting ass alone, I'll be fine.

It’s Maine. They are gun toting, libertarian friendly. As is neighboring NH. Constitutional Carry states. Make sure to visit the Kittery Trading Post.

https://www.kitterytradingpost.com/