South Bristol offers quiet, coastal living in rural Maine
Located on the Pemaquid Peninsula, the town of South Bristol is a rural waterfront community home to a mix of full-time residents and seasonal visitors. As of the 2020 U.S. census, this Lincoln County hamlet had a year-round population of less than 1,200 people. “This is a really nice, quiet, wooded coastal town,” says Kirstie Ransdell, a local Realtor and Associate Broker with Keller Williams Realty, Inc. “There’s nature and beauty everywhere you go; it’s part of your everyday experience here. If someone lives somewhere where they’re seeing pavement, concrete blocks and chain stores everywhere they look, then a place like this can really bring a lot of peace.” South Bristol encompasses Rutherford Island and the popular seaside village of Christmas Cove, which Ransdell describes as the heart of the community. In addition to tourism, local fishing and lobstering industries shape the town’s economy: “We’re well known for our oyster farms, and if you go kayaking or boating, you’ll see lobster traps and muscle traps everywhere,” Ransdell says. South Bristol is almost entirely residential; for commercial amenities, larger towns like Damariscotta are within a 20-minute drive of town.
Historic homes and waterfront estates with low property taxes
South Bristol has a wide range of single-family housing styles, many of which feature custom architectural designs and sit on spacious, country lots. “There are a lot of older homes here. You’ve got Capes, Federals, some 200- or even 250-year-old homes, and all the way up to newer construction,” Ransdell says. “People who buy homes in this area often have a personal connection to it, such as they grew up coming here as a kid or maybe they’re looking to buy a generational home that family members lived in.” While inland single-family homes often cost between $390,000 and $780,000, most waterfront properties start around $950,000 and can sell for upwards of $2.5 million. With an average home value of more than $850,000, South Bristol homes have significantly higher prices as compared to the Portland Metro Area, which has an average home value of about $640,000. “South Bristol has very low property taxes, and that’s a huge draw for the town. Because of this, a lot of properties maintain their value,” Ransdell says. The town’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4 and the lowest score possible on the index.
South Bristol’s shoreline supports seasonal recreation
Most of South Bristol’s outdoor recreation activities revolve around the shorefront and bodies of water like the Damariscotta River, John’s Bay and “The Gut,” a busy tidal passage that separates Rutherford Island from the mainland. The town also has several coves and smaller islands, many of which can only be accessed by boat. The Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust oversees and maintains six natural preserves in South Bristol, all with trail systems and recreational amenities for fishing, boat access and picnicking. In winter, the trails are used for cross-country skiing, sledding and snowshoeing. Ransdell says that many people make the trip to Walpole village in South Bristol to golf at Wawenock Golf Club, a public club with a 9-hole course layout.
South Bristol School serves local primary students
The town’s only school is South Bristol School, which serves prekindergarten through eighth-grade students and is rated A-minus by Niche. “It’s a very small school and almost functions like a private school,” Ransdell says. “15 students would be a lot to have in one classroom.” Students in grades nine through 12 have school choice under the Central Lincoln County School System, also known as Alternative Organizational Structure 93 (AOS93). Most local high school students attend Lincoln Academy, a private boarding school in Newcastle with an A-minus rating. While AOS93 does not have a public high school option, the district covers all private school tuition costs for high school students from South Bristol.
Year-round shopping and dining in Damariscotta
Commercial amenities are very limited in South Bristol; of the few eateries that are in town, most are only open seasonally. “You’ve got some restaurants and fisherman co-ops that are typically open from spring through the fall, such as Coveside Restaurant, a popular spot right on the water,” Ransdell says. “Otherwise, almost 100% of shopping and dining is done in Damariscotta. That’s where you have all your shops open year-round.” Downtown Damariscotta, 13 miles away, has a concentration of boutiques and local businesses along the riverfront. Chains, larger retailers and grocery stores like Hannaford line Route 1 farther inland. “If I want to get to a T.J. Maxx or Target or Walmart, I’d probably have to drive 30 minutes away, but I can easily get by and find everything I need in the Damariscotta area,” Ransdell says.
Route 129 is a convenient town artery
Maine State Route 129 is South Bristol’s main artery and the only numbered thoroughfare in town. Route 129 runs north-south, from Rutherford Island to Damariscotta, where it connects with U.S. Route 1, a major coastal highway that travels through cities like Bath and Portland. There is no public transit system in South Bristol, so residents rely on cars for ground transportation. Boat owners can also keep their boats at private docks or marinas and access coastal places by water. The nearest airport, Portland International Jetport, is about 68 miles away. MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta is the closest full-service medical center.
