Rockport is a scenic coastal village defined by its harbor
With historic homes overlooking a harbor filled with sailboats, Rockport is a picture-perfect image of coastal Maine. The community’s population swells in the summer as seasonal residents and tourists arrive to enjoy sailing in Penobscot Bay, and Rockport is also home to year-round residents drawn by the area’s highly rated schools. “Rockport is actually a pretty large town. Locally and from a real estate perspective, we kind of break it up,” says Melanie Trott, who’s sold homes in the area for 15 years and is a broker and owner at The MidcoastHome Real Estate Co. “There’s Rockport Harbor, which is this beautiful harbor nestled in between a hilly little village with some beautiful historic homes, and then there’s Rockport, which would be everything else.” Outside of the tourist-friendly harbor, the community has a more rural feel, featuring spacious properties near hiking trails.
Harbor-front parks, nature preserves and ski slopes
“Rockport Boat Club is a huge attraction, so there’s a lot of sailing and boating activity in the community,” Trott says. The club offers sailing lessons for adults and kids, and they also host regular gatherings. Rockport Marine Park offers scenic views of the harbor and relics of Rockport’s past, including lime kilns from the 1800s and a statue of Andre the seal, a tame seal whose story inspired a book and film. The park also has a fishing dock and a public boat ramp that provides access to the bay and the Goose River. “There are really excellent trail activities, whether it's trail running, hiking or even just walking,” Trott says. “In West Rockport, there are some really beautiful trailheads that wind into other networks along the coast.” Nature preserves here include Beech Hill Preserve and Ragged Mountain Preserve. In winter, skiers can hit the slopes at the Camden Snow Bowl, which also hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championships. The Rockport Opera House hosts musical performances and plays, anchoring what Trott says is a “vibrant art scene.”
New England architecture with water or forest views
Homes near the harbor typically feature classic New England architecture, with details like wood exteriors, steeply pitched roofs and dormer windows, and they can also have established gardens and harbor views. Colonial, Cape Cod and New Traditional homes are also common. Outside of town, forested properties — some with multiple acres — sit farther apart along quiet roads. Homes under 3,000 square feet typically cost between $250,000 and $830,000, while larger houses can cost between $850,000 and $1.5 million. Condos in Samoset Resort range from $540,000 to $730,000, plus monthly homeowners association fees between $1,100 and $1,350 that cover community amenities. Condos elsewhere range from $180,000 to $370,000, plus monthly HOA fees between $350 and $730. Some properties can have a high risk of flooding and might require flood insurance.
Schools earn high ratings and encourage innovation
Kids can attend Camden Rockport Elementary, which earns an A-minus from Niche, and then go to the A-rated Camden Rockport Middle. At the A-minus-rated Camden Hills Regional High, students can explore their ideas at the Hatchery Innovation Center, which offers a makerspace and courses that help future entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators work on individual projects.
Restaurants with harbor views and locally focused grocers
Most of Rockport's restaurants are near the harbor, including Nina June, an upscale Mediterranean eatery with views of the water; chef Sara Jenkins was a 2023 semifinalist for the James Beard Best Chef Northeast Award. Seafolk Coffee also offers harbor views but has a more casual vibe, serving house-baked pastries and small-batch coffee. Other businesses here include a bookstore, an art gallery and a wine shop. For locally sourced groceries, Bleeker & Greer offers fresh meat, Fresh Off the Farm sells produce and Graffam Bros. Seafood offers lobster and other seafood. “The harbor is very, very tiny, so you're not going there to do a lot of shopping,” Trott says. More restaurants, stores and grocery chains are in Camden and Rockland.
Community events celebrate history and holidays
A Rockport resident was responsible for inventing the donut hole, and the community celebrates this innovation each June with two days of donut vendors and donut-themed activities, like a costume parade and a homemade donut contest. On New Year’s Eve, Rockport’s Holiday on the Harbor rings in the new year with fireworks launched from the water. Luminarias light the paths at Rockport Marine Park, where onlookers gather around firepits and eat from food trucks.
A car-reliant area along Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is the main road through Rockport, leading around 7 miles to Rockland and 20 miles to Belfast. Augusta is a roughly 39-mile drive away on state Route 17. Sidewalks in Rockport’s town center make it pedestrian-friendly. Houses of worship here include The Anchor Church and West Rockport Baptist Church. MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital is along Route 1, and Bangor International Airport is a 58-mile trip.
Written By
Annie Franklin
