Residents Find Peace in
Charming New England Seaport of Camden, Maine
Cost of Living: Above the National
Average
Although not everyone would consider the coast of Maine to be
the ideal place to live, picturesque Camden, located roughly
half way between Bar Harbor ("Bah Habah") and
Brunswick, and surrounded by Camden Hills and Penobscot Bay,
offers just what many people are seeking: a small seaport
with lots of New England charm, a beautiful waterfront setting,
plenty of outdoor recreation and three seasons (no Spring).
Settled in 1769, Camden retains much of its 18th century flavor.
Over the years, it has been a hub for boat building and tourism
and today attracts vacationers from around the world.
Camden is not cheap and living here costs more
than in many parts of the United States, although not as much as
living in New York, Washington, D.C. or San Francisco. It
does cost more to live here than in most other parts of Maine.
It is a tourist destination, so everything is priced higher than
it normally would be somewhere less charming.
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During our last visit to Camden, we came upon a
small sign along the side of the road saying parcels of land
were for sale. We drove down a dirt road expecting
to find a real estate office and salespeople, but after driving
a short way into the woods, we found instead another small sign
with a hand drawn map on it showing eight pieces of land, each
two or three acres. After further exploration, we found
one parcel, and it sat on directly on the water's edge,
with a cliff overlooking the Atlantic, complete with a rocky
shoreline, waves crashing and fog rolling in. There were
no signs of civilization anywhere; we were deep in the woods,
right on the coast. After finally finding a website
address on the original sign, we discovered the parcels were
pricey ($900,000), but to find such virgin, secluded,
edge-of-the-ocean land still for sale is rare these days. |
This is the high end; there is cheaper real
estate for sale inland. Down the road in Hope, we found a
small, two bedroom house on an acre of wooded land for $110,000.
Most homes in Camden are single-family and start at $375,000.
Homes overlooking the Atlantic go for much more. There are
many small towns in the area, such as Hope or Union or
Northport, where homes start around $140,000.
The 2000 Census reports that the average rent in
Camden is $528, but we have yet to see a house rental for that
price. Our feeling is that average apartment monthly rents
begin at $800 a month and go up from there, although there may
be single rooms for rent for around $550 or so. Because
most dwellings in Camden are single family, expect rents to be
fairly high.
Camden, Maine,
Continued....
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