Monmouth is a historic small town in the Winthrop Lakes Region
In the heart of central Maine’s Winthrop Lakes Region, Monmouth is a close-knit town that offers a rural yet central location. “It’s a small community about halfway between the Lewiston-Auburn area and Augusta,” says Kelly Webb-Quinn, a Monmouth native, current resident and real estate agent with Fontaine Family – The Real Estate Leader. “There’s a lot of history here and family generations that have been here a long time,” she says. Incorporated in 1792, the town holds much historical significance and was the site of the Battle of Monmouth during the Revolutionary War. While most properties are residential, Monmouth has a small downtown area with some commercial establishments near Cochnewagon Lake. The town has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Waterfront recreation at Cochnewagon Lake
Portions of many lakes are stretch into Monmouth—including Cobbosseecontee Lake and Wilson Pond—but the only lake located entirely within the town is Cochnewagon Lake, situated right near the downtown area. “For a very, very small town, it’s impressive that all of Lake Cochnewagon is here,” Webb-Quinn says. “There’s a public beach on the lake with a boat launch. Part of Wilson Pond is located in North Monmouth. We have people who come for the summer, but it doesn’t get too crowded.” Other recreational amenities in this area include Springbrook Golf Club, a public 18-hole golf course just west of town, and Mount Pisgah and the adjacent conservation area, which Webb-Quinn says attract a lot of hikers.
Historic single-family homes and waterfront estates
Potential homebuyers can find a mix of housing styles in Monmouth. “There are some older homes here—one of the oldest homes in the area is the one that Henry Dearborn lived in. His original house is still on Academy Road,” says Webb-Quinn. Dearborn was a military general and politician under George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and his house from the late 1700s still stands as a reminder of the town’s history. Common single-family home options include farmhouses on multi-acre properties, ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and houses with traditional architecture. Monmouth also has a selection of more contemporary homes built during the 21st century. Most inland single-family homes range from approximately $210,000 to $480,000, while lakefront properties cost between $500,000 and $1 million.
Attending Monmouth Memorial School and Monmouth Academy
Monmouth students are served by Regional School Unit #2 (RSU 2), which receives an overall C-plus rating from Niche. Prekindergarten through eighth-grade students can attend the B-rated Monmouth Memorial School, while grades nine through 12 are zoned for Monmouth Academy, rated a B-minus. “Some of the teachers that I had when I was in school also taught my kids, so there’s not a lot of turnover,” Webb says, highlighting the close-knit nature of Monmouth’s schools. “There’s also a lot of community involvement with parents. I know parents involved with ball team events even though their kids aren’t in school anymore.”
Local shopping and dining in downtown Monmouth
Monmouth has limited options for shopping and dining, most of which are concentrated in the downtown area. “Next to the Firehouse Museum is Monmouth General Store, and then a little up the street is Apple Valley Bakery. There’s also Monmouth Quick Shop,” Webb-Quinn says. While the general store has some basic food items, Webb-Quinn says most people head to Hannaford for weekly grocery shopping in nearby Winthrop, about 5 miles away. Locals can dine on American fare and comfort food favorites at Route 202 Pizza & Grille and Fast Eddie's Drive-In, a retro diner farther up the highway.
Historic Cumston Hall hosts live shows and community events
Built in 1900, Cumston Hall anchors downtown Monmouth and draws residents and tourists allke: “It’s a beautiful Shakespearean theater home to a lot of history,” Webb-Quinn says. The Romanesque Revival community building hosts live performances and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. “On the last Saturday of September, the town has Apple Fest. They close off a block of downtown and set up vendors in the street. The women in town all make apple pies to sell, which benefits the Monmouth Museum. It’s a really nice community event,” Webb-Quinn says. “We’ve also got one of the largest volunteer fire departments around. They put on a beach party for the Fourth of July, which has vendors, a band, a kids’ cardboard canoe race and, of course, fireworks at night.”
Access to U.S. Route 202
Monmouth is a car-dependent community with no public transportation amenities in the area. U.S. Route 202 is the town’s main thoroughfare, crossing through the entirety of Monmouth and connecting to larger communities like Winthrop. Route 202 takes commuters 15 miles northeast to Augusta and just under 16 miles south to Lewiston-Auburn. Other prominent roads include Route 132, or Main Street, which runs through downtown Monmouth. Portland International Jetport is the nearest commercial airport, located about 54 miles away. Augusta and Lewiston-Auburn both have general hospitals with 24-hour emergency departments.
