Midcoast Maine town with a quintessential downtown area
With picturesque natural surroundings and a laid-back atmosphere, the coastal town of Brunswick invites residents to enjoy a slower-paced lifestyle in Midcoast Maine. Partially outlined by the Androscoggin River and featuring over 60 miles of pristine coastline, Brunswick, dotted with cotton and lumber mills, became a prosperous seaport in the 1800s.Today, the town is home to about 22,434 people and, the local workforce is concentrated in health care, education, retail and manufacturing industries. Top employers include Bath Iron Works, a U.S. shipyard and subsidiary of the defense company General Dynamics, MaineHealth and Bowdoin College. “Bowdoin College is a huge draw,” says Nancy Carleton, a local broker with Vitalius Real Estate Group. “Also, as the Portland market has gotten so pricey, Brunswick is a desirable location as far as commuting to Portland for work or play. It’s a good-sized town with lots to offer due to the college.”
Bowdoin College in Brunswick is home to some of the states oldest architecture.
Harriet Beecher Stowe House is located in Brunswick and offers interactive guided tours.
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Shop and dine along Maine Street
Located in Downtown Brunswick, the town’s Main Street is peppered with shops, cafes and restaurants. In the warmer seasons, residents can go to Brunswick Town Mall, also right on Main Street, and shop at the local farmers market. Merrymeeting Plaza and Cook’s Corner, both by Route 1, are home to big-box retailers, local eateries, grocery stores and service shops. While Brunswick has a diverse food scene, there are many restaurants serving seafood, Italian and American fare.
Folks enjoy some outdoor dining at Portland Pie Company in Brunswick.
Morning Glory Natural Foods provides wholesome groceries to Brunswick.
The Great Impasta is a local favorite in Brunswick.
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Brunswick home to Bowdoin College campus
The Brunswick School Department has a B-plus Niche grade and is ranked by Niche as the No. 10 best school district in Maine. Serving over 2,000 students, the district has five schools, including a technical high school. Bowdoin College, a private liberal arts school, also takes home in Brunswick and offers more than 40 degrees and programs. “Because of the college, the Mid Coast Hospital is located in Brunswick. It’s a large campus with many other medical services around it,” Carleton says.
Main entrance to Brunswick High School in Brunswick.
Brunswick Jr. High School serves grades 6 through 8.
Front main entrance to the Harriet Beecher Stowe School in Brunswick.
Kate Furbish Elementary School serves students from pre-K to grade 2.
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Go hiking in the Bowdoin Pines
Brunswick experiences heavy snowfall in the winter and humid summers. The town has close to 50 public parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and several ice rinks, and the Parks and Recreation Department organizes approximately 100 programs and events each year, including sports leagues and youth enrichment lessons. In addition to boasting acres of natural areas and miles of trails, Brunswick also has many boat launches, allowing residents to easily enjoy water activities in the summer. Other popular places include the public Brunswick Golf Club and Thomas Point Beach and Campground.
The Neptune Woods Trail offers hiking opportunities in Brunswick Station.
Bowdoin Pines hiking area provide a natural respite with the town.
Winter is a truly beautiful time for the Androscoggin River in Brunswick.
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Old Navy base being converted into a housing area
Most of the housing in Brunswick consists of single-family homes. “In the old part of town – in and around the college – there are many Federal, Greek Revival and historic homes,” Carleton says. “The rest of town has a wide variety of housing – ranches, colonials, contemporary homes and a few large condo developments.” Condos and townhouses are on the west side of town, and historic multi-family residences are concentrated in the downtown area.
Brunswick’s median home price is about $503,000, which is higher than the state’s median. Single-family homes here typically sell between $350,000 and $800,000, although waterfront properties along the Androscoggin River tend to run higher, sometimes reaching the million-dollar mark. Condos and townhouses here also range widely, typically starting around $300,000, but some can sell for as much as $700,000, depending on location.
Brunswick is a growing neighborhood with many newly built homes.
Brunswick Station hosts the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum.
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Check out the Bowdoin International Music Festival
One of Brunswick's biggest annual events is the week-long Bowdoin International Music Festival, which has been taking place every summer for more than 50 years. Festivalgoers come from all over the world to experience one-of-a-kind music performances and concerts. Other celebrations include the Outdoor Arts Festival and the Claws & Country Music Festival. Bowdoin College is also home to the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a wide range of unique artwork exhibits. Other historic sites of interest include the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum and the Skolfield-Whittier House.
Catch the train at Brunswick Maine Street Station
Brunswick is accessible via U.S. Routes 1 and 201 and Interstate 295, which runs just north of town and travels north toward Augusta and south toward Portland. Brunswick Link, operated by Western Maine Transportation Services, offers free bus service for the town, and Greater Portland METRO runs between Portland and Brunswick via the Metro BREEZ line. Brunswick Maine Street Station is the final stop for Amtrak’s Downeaster line, which directly connects to Boston’s North Station and the Portland Transportation Center. Brunswick Executive Airport, home of the former Naval Air Station Brunswick, is right in town, and the Portland International Jetport is approximately 35 miles away.
Brunswick Station is serviced by the Northeast Corridor Line.
The Brunswick Link provides Monday-Friday public transit service in Brunswick Station.
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Recent crime data
According to Brunswick’s police department, compared to rates in 2022, the 2023 rates for violent crimes have stayed the same and property crimes have decreased. The overall crime rate was below national figures.
I was born in Rumford, raised in Bethel, and have lived in the Oxford Hills for the last 35+ years! I have more than 25 years of experience in the housing and real estate industries in Western Maine. There is nothing more satisfying than listening to the needs of families and couples, and helping them choose just the right home. I know the area well and know just about everyone in the area. I can give you the scoop on the schools, neighborhoods, taxes, nearby hiking trails, best farm stands, local watering holes, and just about anything else of interest. It’s great to do business close to home in a community that I love. In addition to residential sales and buyer representation, I specialize in buying and selling vacation homes and land on many or near many of the area’s mountains, lakes, and ponds. I live in South Paris with my partner, Paul Ricci, also a native of the area, and an employee of the Department of Defense, DCMA. We enjoy sharing our farmhouse, on Mount Mica, with friends and family. When not showing property or enjoying my granddaughters, I spend my time showshoeing, hiking, reading, watching live music, camping, golfing, enjoying microbrews, National Parks, and traveling with family and friends. I saw music shows last year in eight different states, from California to Maine! I also visited several National Parks and National monuments, from Dry Tortugas to Joshua Tree. I am on the Board of Directors of the Western Foothills Land Trust, and the Paris Public Library. I also lead hiking, walking, and kayaking adventures for Western Maine Health. I love real estate. Well know for my enthusiasm, positive attitude, and friendliness, I’m almost always available to chat – and happy to answer any of your questions.
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