A quintessential coastal Maine enclave along rocky Casco Bay
Sailboat-dotted Casco Bay views, quaint eateries serving freshly caught lobster and acres of evergreen forest conservation land are all things Falmouth Foreside residents can expect. Places like the private Portland Yacht Club or the public beach at Falmouth Town Landing make this a quintessential coastal Maine enclave. “Everybody wants this address,” says David Jones, the owner-broker of F.O. Bailey Real Estate, who has sold several homes in the area. “It’s not the kind of place where houses go up for sale all the time.” With a location 6 miles north of downtown Portland and numerous commercial options lining U.S. Route 1, Falmouth Foreside combines nautical charm and big-city convenience.
Falmouth Foreside has shingle-façade beach houses and charming inland
Tucked underneath a dense canopy of pine trees, Falmouth Foreside’s oceanfront streets are brimming with five-bedroom, shingle-façade estates and contemporary dwellings on lots as large as 2 acres. Homes directly on the rocky shoreline typically have private piers or small docks. They also have a greater flood risk. Winding inland roads feature four-bedroom Colonial Revivals and midcentury Cape Cod cottages on quarter-acre lots. “No matter where you buy, it’s a clean, classy area with a mix of longtime residents and new buyers,” says Jones. Inland homes start at $600,000, while waterside builds can cost well over $1 million, a range in the same ballpark as a Portland home’s average $600,000 selling price.
Falmouth Foreside features public beaches, private moorings and acres
A quick drive over the Andrews Avenue causeway leads to Mackworth Island State Park, a 100-acre parcel known for its looped trail, sandy beaches and osprey sanctuary. Locals can store their boats at Falmouth Town Landing, the largest anchorage north of Marblehead, Massachusetts. It also has a public beach, a fishing pier and a namesake market known for its breakfast bites and lobster rolls. “If you’re coming to Falmouth, you go to Town Landing Market,” Jones said. “You can pick up snacks or a sandwich before going to the beach.” Portland Yacht Club is a private mooring option, where competitions like the Pilot Regatta or The Monhegan Island Race occur every summer.
In addition to Casco Bay fun, Falmouth Foreside is brimming with other recreational hubs. Young baseball players will find several diamonds to play on at the Falmouth Little League Complex, and golfers can join the Portland Country Club to practice their putt on the 18-hole Donald Ross course. Skating lessons, hockey leagues and public use times are available at Casco Bay Arena on Hat Trick Drive. From Pine Grove Preserve to the Falmouth Forest, Falmouth Foreside has ample conservation land and hiking options. The 65-acre Maine Audubon headquarters off Gilsland Farm Road features a 2-mile trail that passes through an apple orchard, salt marshes and a peony garden.
The highly rated Falmouth Public Schools district
Children here attend Falmouth Elementary, Falmouth Middle and Falmouth High School, all of which have an A grade on Niche. The high school has a rigorous STEM education, offering classes like Advanced Placement environmental science or honors marine sciences. Those interested in STEM careers can also join the Technology Team, a student-run IT department.
U.S. Route 1 is brimming with chain grocery stores and local seafood
Spanning the neighborhood’s core, U.S. Route 1 is dotted with locally owned and nationally known commercial options. Residents can grab groceries from Shaw’s or at the Falmouth Farmers Market, held every Wednesday during the summer in the Walmart Supercenter parking lot. Rosemont Market & Bakery supplies a rotating deli menu, freshly caught fish and other Maine-sourced groceries. The thoroughfare has chain restaurants, including Starbucks, and local options like Foreside Tavern & Side Bar, a cozy hub serving Maine classics like fried haddock. The Dockside Grill on Foreside Road offers even more seafood classics, along with handcrafted cocktails and panoramic views of Handy Boat Marina from the patio or the wall-to-wall glass interior.
Falmouth Foreside is just a quick drive from downtown Portland
Wide sidewalks surrounding U.S. Route 1 and the occasional paved path on residential streets make Falmouth Foreside easily walkable. The neighborhood is also convenient for several other types of travel. U.S. Route 1 is dotted with several Greater Portland Metro bus stops. A 6-mile drive south on Interstate 295, Maine Route 88 or U.S. Route 1 leads to Portland’s core, where residents will find the Casco Bay Line Ferry Terminal off Commercial Street and the Portland International Jetport to the west.
