Manchester residents live between Cobbossee Lake and Augusta
The town of Manchester is a small, rural area between Augusta and Cobboseecontee Lake in the Winthrop Lakes Region, where residents can find spacious lots and access to popular outdoor recreation spots. Covering just over 21 square miles of land, this Kennebec County town was home to less than 2,500 residents as of the 2020 U.S. census. “It’s a really vibrant community; Manchester is about 6 miles from Augusta and has a great school district, which is renowned for its elementary, middle and high school,” says John Blouin, a former Manchester resident and experienced Realtor with LAER Realty Partners. The town is zoned for Regional School Unit No. 38 (RSU 38), also known as Maranacook Area Schools. “This is also a great area for people who work in the medical field,” Blouin says, citing the town’s proximity to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. Manchester has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Spacious lots and waterfront estates
Homes in Manchester are known for their larger lots and rural seclusion. “If I were looking for home with lots of space, I’d be looking in Manchester,” Blouin says. While some estates are vacation homes and occupied seasonally, Manchester also has a tight-knit population of full-time residents who live in town year-round. Potential homebuyers can find everything from farmhouses and ranch-style homes to Cape Cod cottages and custom-built waterfront properties on Cobbosee Lake. Inland homes mostly range from approximately $200,000 to $700,000, while lakefront estates might cost between $800,000 and $2.1 million. Manchester has an average home value of roughly $480,000, slightly higher than the average home value for the Augusta-Waterville Metro Area, which hovers around $400,000.
Attending Maranacook Area Schools
Regional School Unit No. 38receives an overall B rating from Niche. Manchester Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fifth-grade students and is rated A-minus. Grades six through eight can head to the B-rated Maranacook Community Middle School, while secondary students are zoned for Maranacook Community High School, which earns a B-minus. High school juniors and seniors can enroll in programs offered through the Capitol Area Technical Center, including pathways for culinary arts, law enforcement, computer technology and health occupations.
Outdoor recreation at Cobbossee Lake and nearby hiking areas
Outdoor recreation in Manchester revolves around the town’s lakes and water features, most notably Cobboseecontee Lake, known locally by its shortened name of Cobbossee Lake. Stretching nine miles long, Cobbossee Lake is one of central Maine's largest bodies of water and is a popular spot for recreation. The lake’s trout, bass and perch populations draw fishing enthusiasts. At the lake's northern end near Manchester town center is the Augusta Country Club, where members can enjoy access to a private waterfront and 18-hole golf course. Hiking trail systems wind through the Allen Whitney Memorial Forest and North Acres Wildlife Conservation Area, which the Kennebec Land Trust maintains. Blouin notes that residents also have access to the nearby Kennebec River Rail Trail, a 6.5-mile riverfront corridor between Augusta and Gardiner.
Chain and local establishment in Manchester center
Manchester’s shopping and dining amenities are concentrated in the town center and include a limited selection of chains and local businesses. Walgreens and Dollar General sell household basics and discount goods, while Nouria convenience store offers a Dunkin’ café and an adjacent gas station. Kennebec Cabin Company is a combined retail store and restaurant operated by the cast of “Maine Cabin Masters,” a home-renovation TV show that airs on the Magnolia Network. Other dining options in Manchester include Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream, a family-owned regional chain that serves homemade soft serve. The nearest grocery store is Hannaford at the Turnpike Mall shopping center, less than 3 miles from town. Blouin says residents can get to the Marketplace at Augusta—a mall with dozens of retailers and department stores—in roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
U.S. Route 202 connects to Main Turnpike and Augusta
Manchester is a rural, car-dependent community with no public transit amenities. U.S. Route 202 is a major thoroughfare that runs east-west through the town center and into Augusta, just over 5 miles away. Route 202 also crosses with the north-south Interstate 95, also known as the Maine Turnpike, and U.S. Route 201 in Augusta. The nearest major airport, Portland International Jetport, is just over 60 miles from Manchester and typically takes about an hour to reach. MaineGeneral Medical Center is 7 miles away and has a 24-hour emergency department and other healthcare services.
