Damariscotta Lake State Park anchors the MidCoast town of Jefferson
The North Basin of Damariscotta Lake stretches into Jefferson, a small town in Maine’s Midcoast region. Best known as the gateway to Damariscotta Lake State Park, Jefferson also provides access to smaller ponds, lakes and streams with opportunities for outdoor recreation. “Jefferson is one of my favorite places. Damariscotta Lake State Park is excellent for swimming, and it’s desirable because it has a very rural feel with the rolling hills and the lakes,” says Melanie Trott, a broker and owner at MidcoastHome Real Estate Co. who has over a decade of experience selling homes in the area. While the shores of Damariscotta Lake fill with activity each summer, Jefferson maintains a slower pace of life. Fewer than 2,600 people live among its tranquil landscapes, and the town's location between the coast and Augusta makes it a central base for exploring both inland and coastal Maine.
Explore boat launches and nature preserves near Damariscotta Lake
Damariscotta Lake State Park is open year-round, though its facilities typically close during the off-season. It's most popular in summer, when locals pay a day-use fee or use an annual pass to access its sandy beach for sunbathing, swimming and picnicking. The park also features a playground and draws anglers looking to catch freshwater trout and bass. On the lake’s southwestern shore, a state-maintained public boat launch provides access for paddlers and motorboaters. The boat launches at Clary Lake and Dyer Long Pond offer a quieter fishing and paddling experience. Kayaks and canoes are also common sights on Davis Stream, which flows through Jefferson and into the lake.
Conservation areas include the 1,000-acre Hidden Valley Nature Center. With over 25 miles of multi-use trails, the preserve is a popular spot for hiking and biking in warmer months and for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during winters that average just over three feet of snow. Winter enthusiasts can also explore snowmobiling trails maintained by the Jefferson SnoPackers. For more outdoor activities, coastal towns such as Rockland are less than 30 miles east.
Farmhouses with acreage and lakefront properties with private docks
Most homes are set back from quiet two-lane roads on sprawling, tree-lined lots that span up to several acres. Housing options range from 18th-century farmhouses to traditional Cape Cod and ranch-style builds, many offering enough space for a small homestead or hobby farm. Along Jefferson’s many ponds, lakes and streams, waterfront cottages and log cabin-inspired homes attract both year-round and seasonal residents. "It can be hard to find something to buy in Jefferson since there's fairly low turnover," Trott says. Prices typically range from $240,000 to $550,000, though larger builds can sell for upwards of $600,000. Mobile homes are also common, with prices ranging from $100,000 to $310,000. Jefferson’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score and well below the national average of 4.
From Jefferson Village School to school choice at Lincoln Academy
Jefferson is part of the Central Lincoln County School System and is home to Jefferson Village School, which serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade and has a B-minus from Niche. Since the district doesn’t operate its own high school, it covers the cost of tuition for students in ninth through 12th grade to attend a public or private school of their choice. Lincoln Academy is a common choice for families in the Midcoast area, offering an independent boarding and day school with an A-minus from Niche. The academy’s Applied Technology and Engineering Center provides hands-on STEM experience, and its Robotics Team won the 2024 Maine State Robotics Championship.
Small-town essentials, with more options in Damariscotta
Jefferson’s village center sits across from Damariscotta Lake State Park and includes the post office, municipal building and Jefferson Fire and Rescue, where residents gather each July for a barbecue chicken fundraiser. The community is home to several houses of worship, including Bunker Hill Baptist Church and St. Giles’ Episcopal Church, which hosts an annual country fair known for its signature pie sale and live auction.
The Jefferson Market and General Store serves locals and outdoor visitors with grocery staples, camping supplies and a selection of local goods. It’s also a go-to spot for quick breakfasts, pizzas and subs. For dessert, The Jefferson Scoop opens during the busy summer season and serves Maine-made Gifford’s Ice Cream. Most shopping and dining happen outside town. Morse’s Sauerkraut offers specialty groceries 6 miles away, while Damariscotta, 15 miles south, is home to restaurants, shops and chains like Dollar General and Hannaford.
Driving is a must in this car-dependent town within reach of Augusta
Jefferson is a car-dependent area with rural roads and no public transportation. State highways provide access to bigger thoroughfares such as Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, known for its views of Maine’s Midcoast area. "It's really easy to get to everything from Jefferson," Trott says. Residents are about 20 miles from Augusta and Augusta State Airport, where Cape Air provides daily service to Boston. Portland and the Portland International Jetport are roughly 70 miles southwest. The nearest hospital, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital, is around 15 miles away in Damariscotta.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
