Fryeburg is known for its agriculture, outdoor recreation and art
Established in 1777, the rural town of Fryeburg in western Maine is known for its outdoor recreation and hosting the Fryeburg Fair, the state’s largest annual agricultural event. Like many other rural towns in New England, summertime in Fryeburg is peak tourism season. Outdoor attractions like the Saco River and Kezar Pond draw in the vacation crowds and part-time homeowners: “All of a sudden, some communities here will go from about 1,100 permanent, year-round residents to sometimes 4,400 people staying here for the summer. It can literally quadruple,” says Nicole Fitzgerald, a Sales Associate with Coldwell Banker Lifestyles who lives in neighboring Conway. According to the 2020 U.S. census, the town is typically home to just under 3,400 residents. While Fryeburg is primarily residential, a handful of local restaurants and small businesses are located in the center of town, alongside several hotels and performing arts centers. The town has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Housing options range from mobile homes to waterfront estates
Potential homebuyers can find a range of housing options in Fryeburg. “You have everything from $170,000 mobile starter homes to $2 million lakeside retreats. It’s amazing how quickly the homes can change,” Fitzgerald says. “You also have seasonal cabins here that people close down in the wintertime, and there’s a lot of new construction, especially when it comes to lots on the water or properties with mountain views.” While fixer-uppers can cost as little as $100,000, most turnkey single-family homes range between $250,000 and $660,000. Fryeburg’s average housing value is about $420,000, significantly lower than the average housing value of the greater Portland Metro Area, which falls just below $640,000.
Attending Fryeburg Academy tuition-free
Fryeburg students are zoned for Maine School Administrative District 72, also known as MSAD 72, which receives an overall C rating from Niche. Brownfield Denmark Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade and is rated B-plus, while the C-rated Molly Ockett School enrolls students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Grades nine through 12 are zoned for Fryeburg Academy, an A-rated private school that students living in town can attend tuition-free. “Because the communities are more rural, Fryeburg Academy is a quasi-public and private school that boards students from across the country and even internationally,” Fitzgerald says. “The academy serves eight communities as the high school, and some people will actually come here, buy a house locally, save tens of thousands on tuition, and then leave once their kids graduate high school.”
Four-season outdoor recreation
Outdoor recreation and attractions are a major draw to the Fryeburg area. “We have four full seasons and recreation for each season,” Fitzgerald says. “In the winter, we’ve got proximity to ski resorts, snowtubing and snowshoeing. In the summer, there’s kayaking and swimming on the Saco River, and leaf peeping and hiking in the autumn.” She adds that some of the larger lakes in this area allow pontoons and motorized boats, while others are strictly non-motorized vehicles only. “That can be an advantage of some of the smaller bodies of water, is that they don’t allow anything over a certain horsepower, so it keeps the water quiet,” Fitzgerald says. The Fryeburg Recreation Department maintains a town park with amenities like athletic fields, playgrounds and a walking track.
Conway offers nearby shopping and dining
Most shopping and dining amenities in Fryeburg are local eateries and small businesses, but residents have proximity to chains in nearby Conway, right across the New Hampshire state line. “Fryeburg is better known for its farm stands and farm-to-table offerings. For groceries, you can go 15 minutes to Conway or drive an hour to Portland for major shopping, but most everything you could need is right there in Conway,” Fitzgerald says. Popular restaurants in Fryeburg include 302 West Smokehouse and Tavern, Fryeburg House of Pizza and The Oxford House Inn.
Access to U.S. Route 302
U.S. Route 302, a major New England artery, runs through Fryeburg and links the town to urban hubs like Conway and Portland, approximately 48 miles away. Other numbered highways that run through town include State Routes 5 and 113. The nearest airport, Portland International Jetport, is just over an hour's drive away. Bridgton Hospital is 15 miles from town and has a 24-hour emergency department.
The annual Fryeburg Fair
What truly helped put this town on the map is the Fryeburg Fair, the largest agricultural fair in Maine. “It’s also the oldest fair in New England,” Fitzgerald says of the annual celebration. With upwards of 300,000 attendees every year, the fair has taken place in town since 1851 and features carnival rides, games, live entertainment and dozens of food and drink vendors.
