What are the cheapest areas to live from Rockland County, NY to Portland, Maine?

Question

I work with dually diagnosed individuals, and I am looking to reloate in the Portland, Maine area.

Answer 1

If you are used to New York State prices, Maine will be a pleasant surprise.  Even Portland itself is not too bad, but you can save even more money by looking in areas outside of downtown, and in places like South Portland.  Or, you can go west of the city, near Gorham, for example.  

As a rule, prices are higher in the tourist areas east of I-95, especially as you get closer to the water.  But there are plenty of pockets of reasonably priced housing wherever you go.

You could also look further north.  Bath, for example, is quite inexpensive, although if you are working in Portland you would have a commute of 40 minutes or so.  I like Bath, and I've spent quite a bit of time there.  It is very real and un-touristy, but the low prices have started to attract some artists and others, so I think the long-term prospects for life there are good.

Of course, anywhere in Maine you have to contend with high heating costs in the winter, so keep that in mind.  You'll make it up by not needing a/c in the summmer. ;-)

The Portland newspaper (the Portland Press-Herald) is surprisingly good for a small city.  http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/

You can access the classified ads online.  For that matter, the newspaper for the Bath-Brunswick area is also online.  That one, the Times-Record, is not much of a newspaper, but it does have classifieds, so if the area interests you at all, it is worth checking out:

http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main....

I hope this helps.  Good luck!!