Rural back roads and a close-knit community define Chelsea
Chelsea offers a rural Maine lifestyle along quiet back roads, not far from city amenities. Located about seven miles south of downtown Augusta, Chelsea sits along the eastern bank of the Kennebec River. Though it feels remote, the town is close to both Augusta and Gardiner, where groceries, entertainment, eateries and the University of Maine can be found. Family farm markets and the local Togus Pond add to Chelsea’s peaceful, country feel. Despite its pastoral landscape, the town maintains a tight-knit community feel. “Chelsea is full of nice, working-class people,” says Marty Britten, a local municipal worker who has lived in the area for more than 30 years. “There are plenty of organic farms and river access with nice fishing and a walking trail.”
Chelsea’s Community Heart & Soul was created in 2019 by town officials to foster community engagement. The volunteer-based program helps with food access through a community garden and nature access through grant funds that revitalized the town’s only park. The organization also communicates via a quarterly newsletter and keeps a calendar of social events like walking groups and potluck dinners.
Butternut Park and Togus Pond offer serene recreation
Outdoor recreation in Chelsea centers around its natural water features. On the west side of town, Butternut Park is a grassy area that sits along the banks of the Kennebec River and is a popular spot for watching Hallowell’s July Fourth fireworks display. On the other side of the river, the Kennebec River Trail follows the water and leads all the way to Augusta. “And in the wintertime, the Kennebec has smelting, which is ice fishing for smelt,” Britten says. For more fishing opportunities, Togus Pond on the town’s north side is teeming with bass and perch. Kayakers and anglers often take advantage of the lake’s quiet and accessible shoreline.
The town of Chelsea turned 175 years old in August 2025, and the community gathered outside the town office to celebrate. Festivities included live music, food and craft vendors, as well as family-friendly activities like bounce houses, a petting zoo and face painting.
Ranch styles with acreage line Chelsea’s quiet roads
Residences in Chelsea are primarily single-family homes, and the town’s owner-occupancy rate is 87%. Some properties sit along the town’s main road, tucked down long driveways behind pine and maple trees. Other homes are located down narrow side roads that wind deeper into Chelsea’s rural setting. Ranch- and raised ranch-style homes are common, ranging in size from 1,000 to 2,500 square feet. There are also older farmhouses built in the early 1900s that have since been updated. Properties typically offer at least an acre, sometimes upwards of 5, and often feature detached or attached garages. Price tags run from around $130,000 to about $525,000.
Riverside eats, farms and a dance hall shape town life
Retail and entertainment options in Chelsea lean on the town’s unassuming atmosphere. On the east side, Crystal Falls draws a weekend crowd to dance along to live music. On the west side, Mughal Palace sits on River Road and serves up traditional Indian favorites. Just down the street, Deb’s Ice Cream operates out of a small cottage, offering drive-through or window service. Centrally located in Chelsea along State Route 226, Olde Haven Farm sells fresh vegetables, unique preserve combinations like strawberry basil and blueberry lavender, as well as handmade goods like soaps and salsas. The family farm also runs a butchery, selling pork and lamb raised on-site. For more shopping and dining variety, residents can head north to Augusta, where there’s a Walmart and Sam’s Club, or across the river to Gardiner, where there’s a Hannaford and several riverside eateries. “If you live in northern Chelsea, you go up to Augusta,” Britten says. “But otherwise, it’s very convenient to cross the bridge over the river into Gardiner.”
Nearby public schools and UMA serve local students
Students can begin their education at Chelsea Elementary School, which serves kindergarteners through eighth-grade learners and holds a B-minus rating from Niche. High schoolers then typically attend either Gardiner Area High School across the river, which has a C-plus, or the C-rated Cony Middle and High School located in Augusta. The combined campus installed a new turf field in 2021, Fuller Field.
For higher education, the University of Maine at Augusta is situated about 9 miles north of Chelsea’s center. Part of the University of Maine system, the institution is known for its flexible online and distance-learning programs.
Residents are linked to Augusta via State Route 226
Chelsea is car dependent, as there are no public train or bus services available. State Route 226 winds through Chelsea as the town’s main two-lane artery. The highway leads residents to Water Street along the Kennebec River and then connects them to Gardiner and Farmingdale across the water. The highway also continues north toward Augusta. In the northern neck of Chelsea, the Togus VA Medical Center provides health services to military veterans and their families.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
