$1,030,015Average Value$572Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes For Sale
Coastal Harpswell is shaped by fishing, islands and quiet coves
Life in Harpswell smells of sea salt, with inlets babbling and boats quietly humming along the shore. The eastern portion of the small Maine town of Harpswell is an enclave of islands, each with its own distinctive personality. The tight-knit Bailey Island convenes around the lobster industry and its general store, Orr’s Island has a special protected cove where the wind can’t get in, and Great Island is where you’ll find tons of lobstermen and old fishing weirs. “You drive down and you’ll see fishermen in fishing gear, and places to buy lobster and buy fish,” says Curt Fish, owner of Sharon Drake Real Estate in nearby Bath. “You have to go pretty far up the coast before you see lots of fishermen in one place.”
Harpswell offers a mix of year-round homes and summer retreats
Throughout the islands, houses range from multifamily properties for around $200,000 to shingle-style shorefront homes with deepwater docks for $3 million. There are 1970s bungalows for $330,000, ten-year-old contemporary ranch-style houses for $750,000, modern contemporary houses with board-and-batten exteriors for $400,000 and contemporary brick houses with cathedral ceilings for $1.6 million. Harpswell is a mostly year-round community, Fish says, but about 30% of residents are so-called “summer folk.”
Accessible hiking and picnic spots along Harpswell’s coastline
One of the highlights of these idyllic keys is Cliff Trail, a hiking area along Strawberry Creek in Great Island. The trail includes a 150-foot. cliff with breathtaking views of the Long Reach waterway. The creekside portion of the hike was updated in 2021 to include a smooth, wide path, accessible for people who either use mobility devices or have limited mobility. Devil’s Back Trail Area, named for a trail that runs along the “spine” of the devil’s back, goes through a mixed forest that includes a handful of apple trees. Taking the trail down to Gun Point Cove, hikers can climb out to the rocks for a picnic during low tide.
Long Cove offers calm waters and shelter from coastal storms
Orr’s Island and Bailey Island are vibrant communities with a Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard sort of vibe, Fish says. Here, residential areas closely packed with cottages are close to a handful of beaches and conservation areas, like the rocky Houghton Graves Park. There are also plenty of places in Harpswell where folks can go kayaking or learn how to sail. “You really feel like you’re out in open ocean,” Fish says. “You can always smell salt water, and you can always hear a boat going this way or out.” Tucked away at the northern tip of Orr’s Island is Long Cove, a secluded, dead-quiet waterway. Because it opens to the north, the wind can’t get inside, and as a result, the water here is warm. Neighbors can come here to get a reprieve from the otherwise windy Keys or to escape during a hurricane.
Maine SAD 75 includes Harpswell and nearby rural towns
Harpswell is part of Maine School Administrative District 75, which has about 2,400 students between the towns of Bowdoinham, Harpswell, Bowdoin and Topsham. About 125 children in kindergarten through fifth grade attend Harpswell Community School.
Lobster rolls and pizza served at the general store
When it’s time to eat, Bailey Island General Store has a mix of convenience items plus freshly made pizza and lobster rolls. Right next to the historic Cribstone Bridge connecting Bailey and Orr’s is Cook’s Lobster & Ale House. Customers can have a whole lobster here, or in stew form, packed into a grilled cheese or fried into wontons. They can also order it submerged in a big bowl of macaroni and cheese.
Easy access to Route 1 and I-295 for trips to Portland
Even though these are islands, getting to the highway is not terribly inconvenient. It’s a short drive to U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 295, which will take drivers to Portland and its international jetport.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Harpswell
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Harpswell Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Harpswell, ME sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Harpswell, ME over the last 12 months is $850,000, up 16% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
