Tacoma Lakes access and rural charm meet in the town of Litchfield
Litchfield is a rural town bordering the Tacoma Lakes, a cluster of five lakes where outdoor enthusiasts gather to fish, kayak and explore the shoreline. Home to just under 3,600 people, the community features waterfront properties and spacious homes along quiet two-lane roads. “It’s a choice location for people to live that might have larger lots there and access to the waterways, with seasonal cottages and year-round homes on the lakefront,” says John Blouin, a Realtor with LAER Realty Partners who has more than a decade of experience in real estate. Litchfield blends lakefront and rural lifestyles in a small town whose agricultural roots remain an important part of its identity today, making it a quiet destination between bigger cities. “It’s a good traveling distance to Lewiston, Auburn, Portland and into Augusta,” Blouin says.
From summers at Woodbury Pond to winters spent on snowmobiling trails
Litchfield Community Park sits near the town’s center. It offers a small play area for kids and a network of nature trails, including a storybook trail featuring local wildlife. Local youth sports leagues compete at Veterans Memorial Park, which has ball fields and sports courts. Woodbury Pond Park is open each summer for swimming and fishing, with an entrance fee for residents. Along the pond’s northern shore, a state-maintained public boat launch attracts paddle boaters and bass fishermen. Golfers can play a round at The Meadows Golf Club, a public 18-hole course home to Doolin’s Pub.
The town features several nature preserves and conservation areas with miles of trails. Popular spots include Smithfield Plantation and the Webber-Rogers Farmstead Conservation Area, where locals can hike and walk in warmer months and enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. The snowy season brings an average annual snowfall of just under five feet, and the Litchfield Snowmobile Club maintains snowmobiling trails throughout town.
Housing options include ranch-style homes and waterfront cottages
Most homes are set along winding country roads on spacious, tree-lined lots. The median lot size is just under an acre, with some properties offering enough space for a hobby farm. Cape Cod and ranch-style homes are common, with occasional farmhouses throughout town. Waterfront cottages provide access to ponds and lakes and often include private docks with opportunities for outdoor recreation. Prices typically range from $215,000 for smaller builds to $550,000 for waterfront properties, although there are a handful of new construction subdivisions where prices range from $480,000 to $600,000. Prices for mobile homes fall between $140,000 and $280,000. Properties sell after an average of about a month on the market, with well water and septic systems common in the countryside. The town’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Students can attend public schools in Regional School Unit 4
Litchfield is part of Regional School Unit 4. Kindergarten and first-grade students can begin their education at Libby-Tozier School, which currently does not have a Niche rating. Carrie Ricker School, which earns a C, serves second through fourth grade. Older students may attend the C-minus-rated Oak Hill Middle School and C-rated Oak Hill High School. The district also offers summer programs for all grade levels, with the high school’s program allowing students to earn credit in required courses.
Annual fair and bluegrass festival at the Litchfield Fairgrounds
Each September, the Litchfield Fair celebrates the town’s agricultural roots with three days of festivities. Signature events include competitive horse and cattle pulling, an apple pie contest and a butter-making demonstration. The fairgrounds also offer carnival rides, live music and food vendors selling fair favorites like lemonade and funnel cake. The Litchfield Fairgrounds also hosts the Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival, held twice a year in June and August.
Farm stands and casual eats are close, with big-box stores in Augusta
Litchfield’s local flavors shine through its farm-fresh offerings. Seaman’s Farm features a roadside stand with seasonal produce, and they offer pick-your-own strawberries throughout the summer. At Applewald Farm, residents enjoy scratch-made baked goods and pick-your-own apples in the fall. A handful of restaurants serve the community. Route 197 Diner is a cozy spot known for homestyle food, while Batter Up Bakery offers quick bites and coffee to go. At Amie’s Place, casual bites include pizzas and subs. Dollar General sells the essentials, and Gowell’s Shop ‘n Save is a full-service supermarket offering discounts on Maine-made products. “It has limited shopping options, so you have to travel probably 20 minutes to other areas one way or another,” Blouin says. Bigger retailers like Walmart, Home Depot and Sam’s Club are about an 18-mile drive away in Augusta.
Residents rely on cars to access nearby Augusta and Lewiston
Litchfield’s rural roads lack sidewalks and public transportation, making the town highly car-dependent. State Route 197 and the Maine Turnpike connect residents to Interstate 295 and to larger cities such as Augusta and Lewiston, about 18 miles away. Augusta State Airport provides service to Boston through Cape Air, while broader air travel is available 50 miles away at Portland International Jetport. Central Maine Medical Center, a certified Level III Trauma Center, is less than 20 miles from Litchfield.
![Sally Stimpson]()
Written By
Sally Stimpson
