Rural houses a short drive from cities along the Penobscot River
Bradley is one of the larger towns in Penobscot County in terms of land mass, yet since most of the area is untamed wilderness, it still exudes the atmosphere of a small, rural neighborhood. People are drawn to the open spaces, lower house prices and close proximity to larger cities like Old Town, 2 miles to the north, and Bangor, 12 miles to the south. Quiet homes have access to the forest or the Penobscot River, as well as several dining and shopping options within a short drive. “It is a really small rural town,” says Stephen Sprague, an associate broker with ERA Dawson-Bradford Co. who has been serving the Bangor area for over 10 years. “It is an area that feeds off of Bangor, but it is a really nice town that sits along the river.”
Dense forest, open plains, rivers and mountains make up the beautiful surrounding of Bradley.
Single floor living is a popular with residents of the Bradley area.
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Maine Forest and Logging Museum
Most of Bradley's 51 acres are forested, allowing for plenty of recreation. Several outdoor activities center around the Maine Forest and Logging Museum, a living history museum created in the 1950s to display artifacts, tools and documents to honor the legacy of eastern Maine’s forestry and logging industry. Sprague says it is “a pretty cool small museum; you can probably explore it all in about 45 minutes.” The museum hosts several community events, including mushroom walks, basket-making classes and living history days, where residents can watch Civil War-era reenactors press cider and work in the forge. Beyond the museum, there are also two trails that lead into the forest with signs and maps to help point out the 19 tree species that make up the area, like paper birch and eastern white pine. There are also picnic spots where families and students can enjoy a quick snack on field trips as they gaze upon the historic wood buildings.
Visit the Maine Forest and Logging Museum near Bradley for a great history lesson.
Step back in time at the Maine Forest and Logging Museum near Bradley.
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Manufactured and ranch-style homes
Home styles in Bradley can vary depending on their location. Along Main Street, ranch-style, Cape Cod, and Colonial Revival residences sport driveways and garages on their lots, with many houses constructed in the early to mid-1900s. These homes commonly range between $100,000 and $350,000. Branching off from the main road, the area has a number of manufactured homes, many of which are clustered together in their own smaller neighborhoods. Sprague says these make up most of the town's housing options. Prices for manufactured homes range from around $50,000 to $100,000. Many residents maintain their own septic tanks, though a few homes along Main Street have access to city sewers.
Manufactured home are an affordable and popular option in the Bradley area.
Ranch homes are a popular style in the Bradley area.
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Bradley and Old Town public schools
Students can attend kindergarten through second grade at Viola Rand Elementary, which receives a B-minus rating on Niche. They can then move on to the B-rated Old Town Elementary in third grade and continue to Leonard Middle School, which receives a C-plus. Students can finish at the B-minus-rated Old Town High School, which has a strong marching band program that performed at the 1997 inauguration.
Viola Rand Elementary School serves area students in grades PK-3.
Old Town High School receives an overall rating of B- from niche.
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Major roads alongside the Penobscot River
Bradley is known as a bedroom community. Residents can relax and play in town but commonly travel and commute to Bangor and other nearby cities for work. Access to State Route 178, also known as Main Street, and U.S. Route 2 simplifies drivers’ commutes. Sidewalks and quiet rural streets allow locals to easily stroll to meet with a neighbor or walk the dog. Bangor International Airport is 16 miles from town, and the Helen Hunt Health Center is 2.5 miles away.
A variety of Colonial styles can be seen along Main Street in Bradley.
A float plane can be seen taking off over the Penobscot River near Bradley.
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Events in nearby Binette Park
Residents of Bradley can enjoy annual events in the nearby Old Town, which is about 2.5 miles away. Riverfest is one of the more popular events of the year, which takes place over three days at Binette Park. The event fills the park with food and craft vendors and includes a parade, a high school football game, and a 5k towards the end of September. The community also gathers at Binette Park for the annual Fourth of July celebration, where the Penobscot River lights up with a giant fireworks display that can be seen above the tree line.
Ice cream and nearby dining options
While Bradley is a primarily residential neighborhood, the town still offers a sweet treat a short walk away. Spencer's Ice Cream is an ice cream store in Bradley since 1933, known for its homemade flavors and pup cups. “It’s a nice little spot just along the main road,” Sprague says. " It’s a ma and pa kind of place, and you can often see people walking along the road to get there in the summer.” Additional restaurants and shopping are commonly found in nearby Old Town, with many residents stopping by Pepper’s Landing, a newer restaurant well-known for its patio seating and classic Maine seafood dishes. Diners can also check out Happy Thai Cuisine, less than a block from Pepper’s Landing, which offers homemade sauces on classic Thai dishes for takeout or dining in. Groceries can be found at Old Town’s Hannaford, 3.5 miles away.
Visit Spencer's Ice Cream in Bradley for fun times with friends and family.
Bradley residents can enjoy a delicious meal from Happy Thai Cuisine.
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Written By
Braxton Puentes
Photography Contributed By
Colin Gee
Video By
Brad Davis
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Agents Specializing in this Area
Elaine Pelletier
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Elaine Pelletier,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Bangor International
31 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Bradley
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Bradley, Milford sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Bradley, Milford over the last 12 months is $258,666, up 16% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Great opportunity ! 49 acres of land w approximately 600 feet of frontage on great works stream . An Amazing spot that's 7 minutes to old town and 15 minutes to Brewer bridge but feel as though you are miles away in the country. Lots of deer, bear and partridge . A mix of soft woods and hardwood. High and dry, level lot. Bradley with a population of just over 1500 is proud to be a bedroom
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Elaine Pelletier,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
532
Median Age
47
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
20.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
23.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$78,125
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$80,465
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.2%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
26.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.1%
% Population in Labor Force
63.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
9°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
69''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
29/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
6/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
