The coastal scenery and small-town charm of Boothbay
Established in 1794, the town of Boothbay is situated between the Damariscotta and Sheepscot Rivers. Living on a peninsula means residents are never far from the water. Here in Midcoast Maine, locals can enjoy an outdoorsy lifestyle and an abundance of seafood. “Boothbay has especially great restaurants, water access and a lot of properties rent for the summer,” says Randall “Randy” Miller, a real estate associate at Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty who sells in Boothbay. While the town is home to shipbuilding companies, it also borders Boothbay Harbor, a regional arts and culture destination and favorite among summer tourists. “Boothbay empties out after leaf season, which ends after October, but there are quite a few full-time residents,” Miller says. This Lincoln County community has a year-round population of around 3,000. “There’s always a nice breeze,” Miller adds. “It’s seven to eight degrees cooler [in the summer] than up here in Newcastle, and warmer in the winter.”
Outdoor adventures and community events in Boothbay
Boothbay offers outdoor recreation on the water and land. Ocean Point Walk is a short, pet-friendly trail along the rocky shoreline, offering unobstructed views of the horizon. Anglers may catch striped bass or snag a bluefin tuna in deeper water. Locals can go boating in the many bodies of water in and around Boothbay, or hop on a chartered boat leaving from Boothbay Harbor. During the summer, boats go to and from Cabbage Island, where locals feast on traditional Maine cuisine. “Cabbage Island is right off of east Boothbay,” Miller says. “They’ve hosted a lobster and clambake for 37 years. High school and college kids make a lot of money working the clambake. They serve corn of the cob, homemade blueberry cake, onions, clams, lobster and chicken if you don’t like lobster.”
Spring and summer bloom at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where butterflies float among the flowers and giant wooden troll sculptures blend in with the trees. Spanning more than 300 acres, the gardens host native plant walks and ecology lectures, attracting visitors from near and far. Members of the Boothbay Harbor Country Club can access luxury facilities like an 18-hole golf course and practice range, five-star restaurant, pool, tennis courts, day spa and fitness center.
Boothbay’s variety of homes includes coastal cottages
Homes in Boothbay have privacy amongst the trees, rivers, lakes and coves. Cottages of varying sizes, farmhouses and other homes were built from the late 19th century through to the present day. Prices depend on size and location: smaller homes located inland typically cost less. Prices range widely from about $80,000 for an 800-square-foot fixer-upper to $3.9 million for a 5,000-square-foot waterfront home on a private peninsula. However, waterfront views don’t require a million-dollar price tag: some homes on the water may cost as low as $490,000. The median single family home price in Boothbay is about $700,000. There are also some mobile homes and land parcels for sale.
Entertainment in Boothbay Harbor
An outing in Boothbay may lead to the Boothbay Railway Village Museum, where visitors can view antique cars that drove the streets here 100 years ago, or ride in a vintage train as it loops the grounds. Otherwise, most entertainment is a few minutes south in Boothbay Harbor, a hub for art galleries, shows and cultural events. The Lincoln Arts Festival is an organization that supports creative initiatives throughout the year, including the longstanding Lincoln Festival Chorus, a group that’s been performing locally since 1980. The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor showcases a variety of music genres, from jazz to acoustic. The opera house is also a stop on local ghost tours: since 1949, witnesses have reported hearing an old piano playing on its own.
Boothbay’s seafood shacks, farm-to-table dining and local markets
When it comes to dining out, residents can stop for lobster rolls at Shannon’s Unshelled, a roadside seafood shack with picnic tables. Carriage House Restaurant offers local seafood and farm-to-table dinners; its fireplace and wood-paneled walls give the place a rustic yet sophisticated atmosphere. On Thursdays from May through October, the farmers’ market at Boothbay Common supplies the area with fresh eggs, cherries, seafood and other locally produced goods. “Pinkham’s Gourmet Market is the nicest fish and meat market,” Miller says. For a wider selection, shoppers can head to Hannaford. Additionally, the sloping streets of downtown Boothbay Harbor are lined with shops, cafés and seafood restaurants.
The public school pipeline in Boothbay
The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Central School District, rated B-minus on Niche, serves the area. Students through eighth grade may attend Boothbay Region Elementary before advancing to Boothbay Region High; both are rated B. The high school offers dual enrollment through the University of Maine at Fort Kent and the University of Southern Maine. Those who graduated from high school between 2023 and 2025 are eligible for the Free College Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees for community colleges across the state.
Navigating Lincoln County and Midcoast Maine
Boothbay is car-dependent due to its rural nature and lack of public transportation. State Route 27 takes drivers to Boothbay Harbor. This road also leads to U.S. Route 1, which connects to Interstate 295, a highway that goes south to Portland. The Portland International Jetport is about 60 miles southwest, while emergency care at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital is closer at hand—about 15 miles northeast.
