$691,227Average Value$406Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
What it’s like to live in Portland’s Back Cove
On the coast of Portland ’s Casco Bay, Back Cove is a sought-after residential community known for its waterfront walkways, neighborhood restaurants and friendly feel. Classic New England styles house residents, and students attend highly rated public schools. Payson Park provides abundant recreation, and the Back Cove Trail offers scenic space along the shoreline. The Back Cove Neighborhood Association hosts Sundays on the Boulevard, an initiative that shuts down Baxter Boulevard once a week for outdoor recreation. The tight-knit community atmosphere is accented by local restaurants and walkability.
Back Cove is located off Casco Bay in Portland, Maine.
In the Back Cove neighborhood, residents can view the cityscape of Downtown Portland.
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Colonial-style homes meet a range of budgets
Home prices in Back Cove reflect its desirability and waterfront location. “When you leave the downtown peninsula, you get bigger lots and driveways. Maybe a garage. You’ll have space for the swing set in the back. It’s very quiet and very walkable,” says Tom Landry, a Back Cove local and broker/owner of Benchmark Real Estate who has been selling the Portland area for more than 25 years. Single-family New England styles, including Cape Cods, Dutch Colonials and Colonial Revivals, typically range from the lower $400,000s up to $1.35 million. “There are also grand Victorians, and there’s no historic district so you can make your older home look a little more modern,” Landry adds. Townhomes and condos start in the mid-$300,000s for a two-bedroom and rise to the lower $600,000s for larger three-bedroom options.
Colonial ranch-style homes line the streets of Back Cove.
Dutch Colonial homes add a unique twist to the Colonial style in Back Cove.
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Affording to move to a higher cost coastal city
The area’s median household income is about $93,000, notably above the national average. However, the cost of living in Portland is also higher than average. Back Cove itself is appealing for its waterfront locale and scenic trails, but it is still more affordable than downtown. “The prices might be a third or half of what they would be in Downtown Portland,” Landry says. For those looking to move into the neighborhood but can’t afford to buy, rentals are available for around $3,000 to $4,000 a month.
Portland Public Schools and Cheverus High
Local students are part of Portland Public Schools, including the following highly rated schools:
Ocean Avenue Elementary
Lyman Moore Middle
Casco Bay High
Parents interested in a private school option can send their high schoolers to Cheverus High School, which is also highly rated.
Ocean Avenue Elementary School serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Cheverus High School is a local private school option.
Lyman Moore Middle School offers a great education for students from sixth to eighth grade.
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Payson Park and the Back Cove Trail dominate
Back Cove's outdoor recreation options contribute to its vibrant community atmosphere. Payson Park is the area’s centerpiece, offering a playground, athletic courts, arboretum, disc golf course and access to the Back Cove Trail. The 3.6-mile scenic loop hugs the shoreline, providing views of the Portland skyline just across the cove. The trail connects to both the Bayside and the Eastern Promenade trails, offering an even longer path for citywide marathons. Baxter Boulevard is a promenade-like road lined with Linden trees that runs parallel to the trail. “The Back Cove Trail is mostly loose gravel, so each Sunday, we shut down the boulevard from Payson Park to Vannah Avenue for Sundays on the Boulevard,” Landry says. “We open it up to the community for roller blading and biking, so people can have a day to look forward to those activities on a paved road.”
The Back Cove Trail is a scenic path for a run through Back Cove.
Shoot some hoops at Edward Payson Park in nearby Back Cove.
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Local eateries and breweries line Ocean Avenue
A few blocks further inland from Baxter Boulevard, Ocean Avenue and Forest Avenue are lined with popular restaurants. “It’s hyper walkable and undergoing a major renaissance with boutiques, shops and cafes,” Landry says. Favorite local eateries include:
Tipo, an Italian restaurant with patio seating
Back Cove BBQ & Pizzeria, a casual spot for take-out
MAIZ, which serves Colombian street food
The Great Lost Bear, a microbrewery with more than 70 beers on tap
Where Ocean Avenue meets Forest Avenue, there is a hub of grocers, coffee shops and farmers markets. “We call it Woodford’s Corner, and our aim is to make ‘neighbor’ a verb,” Landry says.
The Great Lost Bear is a local favorite in the Back Cove neighborhood.
MAIZ in Back Cove serves authentic Colombian food.
Back Cove BBQ & Pizzeria is a neighborhood favorite, known for smoky barbecue and crowd-pleasing pies.
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U.S. Route 302 keeps commuters connected
Back Cove's Ocean Avenue connects residents to U.S. Route 302, providing access to Interstate 295 just a mile south. Route 2 of the Greater Portland Metro bus makes several stops along Route 302. The area is also highly bikeable, with the Back Cove Trail linking to other parts of Portland. For farther travel, Portland International Jetport is about 3 miles away.
The Back Cove Trail provides views of the bay.
The Back Cove Trail separates Baxter Boulevard from the waterfront.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
In terms of being centrally located, my current neighborhood has it pretty good. From a gas station and car wash place at the end of Read St. to a high school at the other, to several restaurants within a 5 minute walk most everything you'd need is here. Located close to the bay, you can use the trail leading around the bay to get to and from downtown and all the big stores located there.
5.0Niche User
2/24/2015Niche Review
Restaurants are plentiful in my area of Portland as well as a variety of places to go enjoy nightlife. The Great Lost Bear is right across from my house and it is always very busy since they are low priced, conveniently located, and always have something going on to entertain guests.
4.0Niche User
2/24/2015Niche Review
There are many unemployed/homeless people in this area but the people who are working are happy with their jobs and hold a positive outlook on working.
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Back Cove
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Back Cove Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Back Cove, Portland sell after 13 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Back Cove, Portland over the last 12 months is $598,500, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This Statley 4 corner Bedroom Home featuring a front to back fireplaced living room,formal dining room kitchen and den with a half bath on the first floor. 4 beds up with full bath additionally a family room in the basement with another wood burning fireplace. On the market for the first time in over 50 years this is the type of home that people enjoy for a lifetime.Easy access to the Back Cove
103 Read Street presents a substantial 1.41 acre offering in Portland, combining an existing three unit property with three additional vacant lots and compelling long term potential. The existing multi-family includes three residential units, while the additional acreage creates an opportunity to explore a range of future uses or development possibilities. A conceptual development plan explores
Well situated Woodfords Corner 2 unit building with a double width driveway that comfortably parks 4 cars! This property has been very well-maintained and owner-occupied until early this year. Both units have bamboo wood flooring and granite kitchens plus there is a third floor that lends itself for a possible home office or other potential uses. Very close to the Boulevard and other urban
Mary Jo CrossLegacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty
Fantastic investment opportunity in Portland's desirable Back Cove neighborhood, just off Ocean Avenue. This well-maintained two-unit property features two bedrooms and one full bath in each unit, providing comfortable and functional living spaces. Separate utilities add convenience for both owners and tenants, while off-street parking is a valuable bonus in this sought-after location.Adding
Opportunity, flexibility, and location come together at 850 Washington Avenue, a beautifully renovated two-unit property in one of Portland's most exciting growth corridors.Situated on over half an acre, this turnkey investment features two spacious 2-bedroom units, a detached 2-car garage, abundant off-street parking, and an expansive backyard, an increasingly rare find within the
Single family Cape in a quiet neighborhood. Renovated in 2020 with new counters, range, dishwasher, and cupboards in kitchen, new sinks in both bathrooms, new laminate floor in bedrooms. Large fenced-in yard, garage, second floor laundry hookups. Previous tenants left behind new HE laundry machines.Tenant pays oil h/hw, electricity & lawncareNo pet dogsNo smoking
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
