Advice on Northern Maine - Bangor to Indian River?

Question

Does anyone have any insight to this area other than it's cold? Are there cute towns? Thinking of moving my family there, looking for low key lifestyle, any advice appreciated, thank you so much!

Answer 1

I was born in Caribou Maine and lived the first 10 years of my live in a town called Van Buren Maine. Both are in Aroostook County. That part of Maine is very very rural and sparsely populated (not as sparsely as western Maine though). Sections at the very top, near the Canadian border are often communities that are very french.
They way of life up there is very slow and relaxed, with lots of outdoor activities and LOTS of space to move. It does get a little colder up there, but you get used to it. The problem with the area is that jobs are much more sparse, especially since they closed Loring Air Force base. Large thriving communities have diminished significantly in size, which can be somewhat depressing, especially for those of us who have seen it in its hay-day. Even the other big industry up there, potato farming, is requiring fewer and fewer people to manage. I remember going to pick potatoes as a kid, but now it is all done by machine.

When I was 10 I moved to Hampden, which is a suburb of Bangor. This area has many more opportunities for employment, for family activities, and the school districts are much more well funded. I always like the Hampden, Hermon, Winterport, Newburg area, as a nice mix of suburb and farming community. That might be a nice area to consider. Anywhere too rural and you run the risk of enrolling your children in schools with fewer opportunities. A little closer to Bangor, you can still find good athletic and music programs.

Best of luck.

Answer 2

It's very...rural. It's not my particular style because I like more excitement, but northern Maine is pretty laid-back, country-style living.