Belfast blends maritime history with a coastal lifestyle
From its roots as a shipbuilding hub in the 1800s to a tourist-friendly coastal city, Belfast is a Midcoast Maine community where life revolves around the water. Belfast’s walkable downtown features views of Penobscot Bay, and boating is still a huge draw, but it’s hardly the only one. “We have a lot to offer regarding culture. There’s a theater, restaurants and a fantastic boat yard,” says Ronanne Haigh, an associate broker and office manager with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northeast Real Estate who’s sold homes in the area for 20 years. “It's a tight community. Everybody is neighborly, friendly and helpful.”
Parks and marinas on Penobscot Bay
The bay is the center of outdoor recreation and the local economy. Front Street Shipyard carries on the shipbuilding tradition here by building custom boats and yachts. “They have one of the largest boat lists on the East Coast, so we see some spectacular boats,” Haigh says. “They get tall ships that they restore, some fantastic schooners.” Steamboat Landing Park and Heritage Park are popular green spaces with benches overlooking the harbor, and the Harbor Walk allows residents to stroll by the water and check out the shipyard. Two marinas—one public and one private—provide options for boat storage and repair. Belfast City Park has a public beach, pickleball courts and a playground. Waterfall Arts offers art classes for kids and adults, and the Colonial Theatre screens new movies.
Historic architecture, from cottages to captains’ homes
Belfast’s successful shipping industry in the 1800s is reflected today in the Federal, Greek Revival and Queen Anne homes in several registered historic districts downtown. Many of the houses here were once owned by wealthy sea captains. “The homes in Belfast are really beautiful,” Haigh says. “You can find a small cottage or a 24-room captain’s home, all in a small area. They’re all well-maintained, so it’s a really picturesque town.” Overlooking the bay, buyers can find New Englander homes and cottages, while the ranch-style houses outside of town have a more rural feel. Waterfront homes and spacious historic properties downtown typically sell for about $770,000 to $1.6 million, while other homes can range from $220,000 to $730,000. Manufactured homes start around $50,000 and can cost up to $200,000, and condos can range from $330,000 to $620,000, plus monthly homeowners association fees ranging from $190 to $690.
Main Street has harbor views and locally owned businesses
Main Street is lined with brick storefronts housing locally owned boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants. Rollie’s Bar and Grill has been a local favorite since 1972, known for its classic pub fare, 1950s booths and a dozen televisions showing New England sports. “If you haven’t been to Rollie’s, you haven’t been to Belfast,” Haigh says. Diners can watch boats pass from the patio at Nautilus Seafood and Grill. Every Saturday, the United Farmers Market of Maine offers locally grown food and handmade goods; the indoor space allows the market to operate year-round. The Belfast Community Co-op also specializes in locally produced groceries. “They haven’t let Walmart in, so the stores have a mom-and-pop flavor,” Haigh says. Some national retailers are near U.S. Highway 1, including a Hannaford grocery store and Walgreens.
Waterfront festivals offer live music and a cheese race
Belfast’s busy summer festival schedule centers around the waterfront. Each Thursday during the summer, local bands play in the gazebo at Steamboat Landing Park for the free Belfast Summer Nights concert series. In July, the three-day Maine Celtic Celebration brings out crowds for traditional music, Highland games and the New World Cheese Roll Championship, where competitors race down a hill to win a wheel of locally made cheese.
Belfast schools earn Cs and teach marine science
Kids can attend schools in Regional School Unit 71, which earns an overall rating of C-minus from Niche. They can start at Captain Albert W. Stevens Elementary and then go to Troy A. Howard Middle; both earn a C rating. At the C-rated Belfast Area High, students can learn about marine science, scuba diving and ocean navigation at the school’s marine institute.
In-town amenities and routes to Bangor and Ellsworth
U.S. Highway 1 is the main route through town, and some roads here have bike lanes and sidewalks for getting around. MaineHealth Waldo Hospital is on Northport Avenue. There are several houses of worship in town, including the First Church in Belfast, which was built in the 1810s and has a bell made by Paul Revere. Mid-Coast Public Transportation operates a shuttle between Belfast and Rockland. Bangor and Ellsworth are both about an hour away. U.S. Highway 1 leads roughly 37 miles to Ellsworth, while state Route 141 connects with U.S. Highway 1A for the 34-mile drive to Bangor and the 37-mile drive to Bangor International Airport.
Flooding risk near the bay and long winters
Some properties on the water are at risk of flooding; homeowners should check flood maps to assess their risk. Maine’s winters can be cold and snowy, and travel impacts are felt mostly on rural roads that might take longer to plow. “The winters are long, but I love it,” Haigh says. “I plow my own snow and heat with wood and just adore it.”
Written By
Annie Franklin
