Saint George blends quiet living with seasonal tourism
On a peninsula in Midcoast Maine, Saint George is a coastal community that runs on fishing and tourism. This small, rural town is home to art galleries, laid-back seafood restaurants and tree-lined hiking trails. Residents over the age of 65 make up about 37% of the population — more than the national average of 19%. The population rises in the summer with seasonal visitors. “You’ll find that the majority of the homes are typically summer homes along the coastline,” says Albert Howard, a real estate associate at Re/Max Jaret & Cohn, who specializes in the Midcoast Maine region. “From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the traffic is unmanageable. Further up north, the population is more year-round.” Visitors and residents can check out the Marshall Point Lighthouse & Museum, which is open only in the summer. It sits next to the Marshall Point Lighthouse, a white 1850s structure that stands guard atop the rocky coastline, marking the southern tip of Saint George.
Saint George’s hiking trails and beaches support active lifestyles
Saint George’s forested peninsula and rocky coastline provide a range of outdoor recreation options. Hikers may spot a beaver dam while on the St. George Town Forest trail, which runs alongside Jones Brook. Fort Point Trail leads through the woods, past meadows and picnic tables and ultimately to a beach. Locals can go paddleboarding and swimming at Drift Inn Beach, a wide, sandy, dog-friendly beach with rocky outcroppings. Recreational leagues can play tennis, pickleball and baseball on the well-maintained courts and fields off Port Cycle Road. Hobby fishermen can dock alongside the lobster boats and sailboats at Tenants Harbor Boat Yard.
Saint George homes offer views of the woods and the water
In Saint George, homes built between the 1850s and the 2010s sit along rural roads. Properties typically have smaller lots within the villages of Port Clyde and Tenants Harbor; those removed from the residential and commercial clusters may have larger lots. Cottages, Cape Cod-style and symmetrical New Englander homes are common, often featuring clapboard or shingle siding. The median single-family home sale price is about $760,000, though prices range from about $140,000 to $1.4 million. Top prices ensure waterfront views, while homes at the bottom of the price range are more likely to be located inland. About 85% of homes are owner-occupied.
Supporting local businesses in Saint George
Saint George is home to several seafood restaurants, like The Black Harpoon, a nautical dive bar, and McLoons Lobster Shack, a no-frills spot with outdoor seating overlooking the water. Residents can get scallops, lobster and fish caught by local fishermen at Port Clyde Fresh Catch, while Martinsville Market sells flowers and produce grown in Maine. More groceries are available at Thomaston Grocery and Walmart Supercenter in Thomaston. The area is not a hub for national chain retailers, but Staples and T.J. Maxx are about 15 miles north in Rockland.
St. George School for elementary and middle schoolers
Elementary and middle schoolers may attend St. George School, rated B-minus on Niche. This school falls within the St. George Municipal School Unit, which is not rated on Niche. St. George School has received several recognitions over the years, including the Maine Environmental Education Association School of the Year Award in 2018. High schoolers in Saint George have school choice, and Medomak Valley High School, rated C-plus, is a nearby option.
Saint George’s limited transit includes scenic ferry access
Saint George is a car-dependent town that’s too rural to be walkable. In Thomaston, where the peninsula connects to the mainland, drivers can access U.S. Route 1, which stretches along the coast of eastern Maine. Emergency care is available about 16 miles north at MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital. When it comes to air travel, small aircraft take off from Knox County Regional Airport about 12 miles north, while Bangor International Airport accommodates commercial airlines about 70 miles north. A ferry runs year-round between Port Clyde and Mohegan Island, a small community 10 miles off the coast of Saint George known for its artist colony and coastal hikes.
