Newcastle is known as the "Gateway to the Pemaquid Peninsula"
In coastal Maine, the town of Newcastle makes up one-half of Lincoln County’s Twin Villages. Newcastle is known as the gateway to the Pemaquid Peninsula and sits directly across the Damariscotta River from the town of Damariscotta, the other half of the Twin Villages. The area is well known for its outdoor recreation, especially along the waterfront, which draws ample summer crowds. “You still get that small-town feel. Even if the town’s seasonal activities attract tourists, they’re still fun for the year-round community and brings people together,” says Kirstie Ransdell, a local Realtor and Associate Broker with Keller Williams Realty, Inc who lives in neighboring Damariscotta. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Newcastle had a population of just under 1,900 residents. The town has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4 and the lowest score possible on the index.
Housing options range from Cape Cods to New England estates
Some homes here date back to the late 19th century, but the overall median construction year in Newcastle is 1980. Single-family properties range from cozy Cape Cod dwellings and Craftsman-style bungalows to rural farmhouses, colonial styles and traditional New Englanders. Most turnkey homes cost between approximately $300,000 and $800,000, but some larger estates—especially waterfront homes—can sell for more than $1.2 million. With an average house value of more than $630,000, homes in Newcastle are priced notably higher than the greater Augusta-Waterville Metro Area, which has an average home value of about $400,000.
Newcastle students have school choice
Students in Newcastle have school choice and open enrollment options, but often attend schools within the Central Lincoln County School System, also known as AOS 93. Great Salt Bay School serves kindergarten through eighth grade and receives an A-minus rating from Niche. Secondary students in grades nine through 12 can attend Lincoln Academy, an A-minus-rated private school that waives tuition for attending students who live in Newcastle and several other coastal communities.
Shopping and dining in Damariscotta
Most of the local shopping and dining amenities, including Reny’s department store, are located in nearby Damariscotta around the town’s waterfront area. “Reny’s is a family-owned chain of stores in Maine that serve as kind of like a Target. It has everything you need. If I want to go to a T.J. Maxx or Walmart, I’d have to drive about 30 minutes away, but I get by just fine in this area, even if there aren’t as many choices,” Ransdell says. Newcastle’s commercial establishments include small boutique businesses like Coastal Consignment and local eateries like Newcastle Public House and Shuck Station Raw Bar, a popular seafood grill near the waterfront.
Recreation from the Damariscotta River to Dodge Point preserve
Newcastle is a popular summer vacation spot because of its outdoor recreation offerings and natural destinations. In particular, the town oversees a large network of hiking trails that stretch from the Damariscotta River waterfront to the Sherman Marsh and Sheepscot River west of town. The Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust oversees other trails and parks like Salt Bay Farm and the scenic Salt Bay Heritage Trail. Spanning more than 500 acres of state-owned land, Dodge Point is a large preserve less than 4 miles south of Newcastle’s town center. Residents also have access to water recreation along the Damariscotta River, with popular activities including boating, fishing and swimming in the summer months.
Getting around coastal Maine via U.S. Route 1
There is no public transit system in Newcastle, so most residents depend on their own cars for daily transportation. U.S. Route 1 is a major thoroughfare that cuts through town and connects to neighboring Damariscotta, allowing commuters to easily access other places throughout the region, including the city of Bath, approximately 18 miles away. The nearest airport, Portland International Jetport, is just over an hour’s drive from town. Damariscotta is home to the MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital-Miles Campus, which operates a 24-hour emergency department.
