Fishing heritage and quiet living define Friendship’s Midcoast appeal
In Midcoast Maine, Friendship is a small town whose maritime past continues to shape its identity today. The community sits on a peninsula in Muscongus Bay, where lobster boats bob in the harbor and fishermen sell fresh catches from working wharves and co-ops. “Friendship is about as local as you can get. It’s at the very end of one of our longer peninsulas, and it’s a very active fishing community,” says Melanie Trott, a broker and owner at MidcoastHome Real Estate Co. who lives in the region. “People looking in Friendship need to be comfortable with a very authentic and rural coastal Maine experience because it is a bit further removed than some of the other coastal communities.” Off the beaten path, Friendship appeals to homebuyers seeking a quieter alternative to the Midcoast’s busier tourist towns. Its CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Public wharf, boat landings and nature preserves by Friendship Harbor
The coastline doubles as a commercial hub and a haven for outdoor recreation. Residents walking along the waterfront can watch lobster boats come and go from Friendship Harbor, and the town maintains a public wharf and several boat landings for those looking to access the water. While the harbor is populated with boats and lobster traps, nearby Walker’s Beach offers a rocky shoreline ideal for paddling or watching the sun set over the sea.
The 50-acre Martin Point Wildlife Reserve has nature trails for hiking in warmer months and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing during winter, which averages roughly three feet of snow. There are more trails to explore at the Nelson Preserve, and there’s a ballfield in the town’s village center.
Classic New England homes and bayfront builds with up to several acres
In the village center, tree-lined streets feature a mix of coastal cottages, New Englanders and ranch-style homes painted in coastal hues or finished with weathered shingle siding. Development becomes sparser throughout the rest of town, where traditional farmhouses sit on sprawling lots along quiet roads. Prices generally range from $200,000 to $450,000, with waterfront cottages tending to be more expensive. Prices for properties on the bay generally fall between $700,000 and $1 million, though waterfront builds rarely come on the market. “There are a lot of generational homes down there,” Trott says.
Quaint village center with community spaces and a few small businesses
Friendship’s village center surrounds Main Street, where 19th-century homes and white-steepled churches reflect its enduring maritime roots. Friendship Advent Christian Church and Friendship United Methodist Church serve the community alongside the Friendship Public Library and Hahn Community Center, which residents can rent for events. At the Friendship Village Co-op, artisans sell everything from homemade jams to hand-painted postcards.
Colorful buoys hang outside Wallace’s Market, a country store with groceries, gas and other convenience store staples. It’s also a go-to spot for pizzas, deli sandwiches and Saturday Indian food specials. Jameson Point Lobster Company opens seasonally, serving its signature lobster rolls and seafood baskets over red-checkered tablecloths. The closest grocery store is Hannaford, about 10 miles away in Waldoboro, and there are more shops and restaurants in bustling coastal communities like Rockland, within 20 miles of Friendship.
Friendship Day brings lobster rolls and boat races to town each summer
For nearly 50 years, Friendship Day has brought the community together each summer for a weekend of coastal-themed celebrations. Annual favorites include a pie contest, live auction and a lobster roll feast at the Friendship Fire Department, along with road races and a parade through the village center. The festivities wrap up on Sunday as locals gather along Friendship Harbor to cheer on the Friendship Lobster Boat Races, a friendly competition and nod to the town’s lobstering legacy.
Students start at Friendship Village before moving to Medomak schools
Friendship is part of Regional School Unit 4, which earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 10-to-1. In the village center, Friendship Village School serves kindergarten through sixth grade and has a B-plus from Niche. Older students may attend the B-minus-rated Medomak Middle School and the C-plus-rated Medomak Valley High School, known for its record-breaking Heirloom Seed Project. The project began in 2005 and has become the largest of its kind, featuring nearly 1,000 varieties of historic seeds. It gives students hands-on experience in growing and preserving seeds while teaching them about the value of food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture.
Driving is the norm, with nearby U.S. Route 1 connecting the Midcoast
Friendship is a car-dependent town with few sidewalks and no public transportation. State Routes 97 and 220 serve as its main roads, leading about 10 miles north to U.S. Route 1, the primary highway through Midcoast Maine. Residents are roughly 70 miles from Portland and 38 miles from Augusta. The nearest airport, Knox County Regional Airport, is 20 miles away and offers direct flights only to Boston. For more flight options, Portland International Jetport is about a 75-mile drive away. MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital and MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital are each about 20 miles from Friendship.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
