Alfred

Considering both population and geography, Lyman is a smaller town than neighboring areas. It sits at just under 50 square miles and the total population, as of 2020, was less than 5,000 people. “There’s no center of town. It’s a rural area. There’s not much there, but it’s a nice place to live,” says Joyce Veroneau, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty in Kennebunkport who has been serving the area since 2002. Instead of a host of amenities, Lyman offers a true sense of serenity and community at local stores or one of the town’s annual events. Roads surrounded by mature trees welcome visitors and residents, winding along the area’s homes and farms. Residents can head to a nearby park and enjoy some time out on one of the town’s many ponds. The Bunganut Lake Camping Area is one of the main places for recreation, with a variety of spots for locals to enjoy a playset or the water. Near the campground is the Lyman Town Park, which offers plenty of picnic space for locals to enjoy the views of the lake after taking a hike. Just across the street is Bunganut Field, which offers a wide-open space with two baseball diamonds, perfect for athletes of all ages. The area also has a wide variety of farms and orchards, many of which have spaces open to the public for those who wish to get their hands dirty and get closer to nature. Equestrians will also enjoy Rest & Be Thankful Farm, a seasonal horse boarding facility that hosts events and offers classes. Lyman’s most popular spot for beer and a bite to eat is the local beerhouse, Funky Bow Brewery & Beer Co. This brewery, set back in the woods, ferments coffee porters, IPAs and Kolsch-style beers, hosts live music performances and makes homemade pizza in a brick oven. Locals can also head to the northern end of the town to get to Town Line, a family-owned restaurant with a wide variety of home-cooked food served at a table, at the bar or to go. Locals can shop for daily necessities at the nearby Goodwins Mills General Store on the neighborhood's eastern end or the Dollar General in the south. Big box stores like Target can be found in Biddeford, 8 miles away. Lyman is the place to find a home surrounded by nature and trees. Mid-Century Cape Cods, classic wooden cabins and ranch-style homes make up a majority of the neighborhood, with almost every home sporting a spacious yard. Many homes also have winding driveways hiding homes among the trees, and some even having water access along one of the many ponds in the area. Prices can range from around $375,000 to $800,000 for a home. For locals looking to build their own homes, the town also has multiple open lots that typically sell for $100,000 to $250,000. Children in Lyman attend school through Regional School Unit 57, which cares for multiple neighboring areas. Students can start their education in the middle of the town at Lyman Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating on Niche. Students can then move on to schools in Waterboro at Massabesic Middle School, which receives a C-plus rating, before finishing up at the C-minus rated Massabesic High School, which has been serving the community since 1969. Being a rural town, transportation is key for residents of Lyman. “It’s good for commuting if you worked in Portland or Biddeford – it’s not far from the turnpike,” Veroneau says. The area is very car-friendly, with residents needing to drive along Alfred Road and Route 202 to get most of their daily necessities. For trips outside Maine, locals can head to the Portland International Jetport, 24 miles away. Southern Marine Health Care Hospital is 9 miles to the east of town. The town of Lyman works hard to bring the community together at events such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Lyman Elementary School. The event features both baskets of goodies and a raffle for local families who attend. For indoor fun, the community also has an active library that offers story hours for preschoolers, craft nights and book clubs for adults. More events can be found in nearby cities like Biddeford, where locals can attend River Jam & Fringe Fest, which is a weekend of activities ranging from fireworks shows to live music and activities for children.

With a century-old country club, major retailers and plenty of homes about 35 miles from Portland, South Sanford is more than the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport that sits at its center. “It has a little bit of everything,” says Realtor Karen Cudworth with Lakeside Realty, a lifelong resident of the Sanford area who has been working in the area for 24 years. Many residents are members of the Sanford Country Club, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and can spend time outside at the Kennebunk Plains Preserve. They can grab a bite from one of the many breakfast spots in Sanford, including Mel’s Raspberry Patch, and go shopping at Walmart. The neighborhood is part of the Sanford School Department, which receives a C from Niche and offers an extensive vocational program. Trees surround the grassy lawns that fill the neighborhood, decorated with manicured bushes and shrubs. Cape Cods from the early and mid-20th century sit among ranch styles and bilevels from the late 20th century. Most of the new construction boasts colonial influences. Prices tend to fall between $275,000 and $575,000. “There are a lot of houses, so some of them are more affordable,” Cudworth says. “But there are a lot of other fees that go along with living there.” She explains that water bills and garbage collection fees are higher than in the surrounding neighborhoods. South Sanford receives a CAP Index Crime Score of two out of 10, compared to the national average of four out of 10. The Federal Emergency Management Agency designated properties along the Mousam River as Zone A or AE, meaning annual flooding is at least a 1% chance. While flood insurance is recommended for anyone in those high-risk areas, it is required for homeowners with a federally backed mortgage. Many locally owned eateries in the area are breakfast diners that close at 2:00 p.m. “Sanford has always been a breakfast kind of town,” Cudworth says. “Breakfast places are always busy and hopping.” Mel’s Raspberry Patch serves family-style meals as early as 6:00 a.m., while Sweet Memories serves more traditional dishes, such as pancakes and omelets. Locals can order a homestyle dinner from Shain’s of Maine or visit popular restaurants such as Applebee’s. Residents can get groceries from Shaw’s and do the rest of their shopping at Walmart and Lowe’s. The Sanford Chamber of Commerce works with Pilot's Cove Cafe, a popular restaurant in the airport, to host the Sanford Brew Fest at the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport every September. It features as many as 20 breweries and live music. The Sanford Farmers’ Market is held on Saturday mornings from May to October, about 2 miles from the neighborhood. Vendors include local growers, bakers and artists. Kids receive a $2 voucher for fruits and veggies every weekend, while veterans get a $20 voucher every Saturday in September. As part of the Sanford School Department, students can complete kindergarten through fourth grade at Carl J. Lamb Elementary School before attending Sanford Middle School for fifth through eighth grade. Both receive a C from Niche. Sanford High School earns a C-plus and partners with the Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC), a vocational school that works with eight colleges to provide hands-on experience in fields ranging from welding to cosmetology to video production. Cudworth says the SRTC is “an attraction for people who have kids in school.” One of the neighborhood’s highlights is the Sanford Country Club, which is celebrating 100 years in 2024, “It’s a nice location,” Cudworth says. “I’ve been around here a long time, and it’s always been here. If I were listing a property in South Sanford, I would mention it.” Besides offering an 18-hole course to members and the public, the club is a popular event venue for weddings and other celebrations. Locals can hike through the Kennebunk Plains Preserve, which spans about 135 acres. Blueberries grow in the preserve and can be picked starting in August every year. Kids can run around the playground and practice basketball at Carpentier Park, about 3 miles away. Residents of South Sanford rely on their cars to get around, with Main Street connecting with both U.S. Route 202 and Interstate 95. The Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport is a municipal airport in the neighborhood. It is part of the Sanford Airport Solar Project, which creates enough solar power to provide electricity to about 20,000 homes. Even with this airport in the area, most residents fly out of Portland International Jetport, about 32 miles away. The closest emergency room is at York Hospital in Wells, about a 10-mile drive.