Relaxing by the river in South Thomaston
South Thomaston is a tranquil, coastal town on the Weskeag River inlet just southeast of Thomaston. Country roads—many of which are single-lane—wind past a landscape made up of trees and farms. “It doesn’t have so much in town; it’s more residential than commercial,” says Albert Howard, a real estate associate at Re/Max Jaret & Cohn who sells in the region. But this simplicity is what draws homeowners to this peaceful slice of Midcoast Maine. Shopping, dining and other errands in Thomaston and Rockland are within a 5-mile drive. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Waterfront views and 19th-century homes in South Thomaston
New Englander and Cape Cod homes with shiplap and shingle siding sit on tidy, manicured lawns. The town has a mix of old and new homes built as early as 1800 and as recently as the 2020s. Prices range from about $260,000 to $1.4 million, with waterfront homes generally starting at $880,000. The median single-family home price is about $565,000, and the housing market generally sees consistent interest from buyers. “This area is really stable, and home prices in Maine are starting to normalize since the pandemic,” Howard says.
South Thomaston’s shoreline and nature reserves offer outdoor escapes
Outdoor recreation here revolves around South Thomaston’s shoreline and coastal forests. Birch Point State Park has a sandy, rocky beach with gentle waves and tidal pools in addition to picnic tables and a designated fishing area. The park tends to get busy on summer weekends. Locals can also go fishing and boating on the St. George River, or hiking through marshy, tree-filled nature preserves further inland. There are courts for pickleball, tennis and basketball behind the town’s office building; pick-up pickleball games take place on Thursday afternoons.
South Thomaston’s seafood spots
Coastal Maine is known for seafood, and South Thomaston is no exception. Diners at McLoons Lobster Shack can chow down on lobster freshly caught offshore while seated at shaded picnic tables overlooking the water. Local seafood market Aphrodite Oysters is just up the road. Keag Store is a convenience store serving lunch specials and carrying a limited supply of groceries. The neighboring town of Thomaston is home to several other small businesses, like local hangout FlipSide Coffee. Shopping and dining chains lie a few miles north along U.S. Route 1, like Walmart Supercenter and Applebee’s Grill + Bar.
The public-school pipeline in South Thomaston
The Maine School Administration District (MSAD) 13, rated C-plus on Niche, serves the town. Elementary students may attend Thomaston Grammar School, rated B-plus, before advancing to Oceanside Middle School and Oceanside High School, which are both rated C-plus. High schoolers enrolled in the Academy Program take the most challenging classes Oceanside High has to offer, including AP Seminar and Research classes and completion of a senior capstone project.
Community spirit in and around South Thomaston
Residents have options when it comes to local entertainment and community gatherings. The Wessaweskeag Historical Society hosts potluck suppers, sponsors historic preservation efforts and distributes scholarships for college-bound youth. The Gilford Butler Center is a community hub at the South Thomaston Public Library, which hosts sessions for music and crafting. Nearby, folks can see vintage automobiles and aircraft on display at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. In Rockland, the annual five-day Maine Lobster Festival is a globally recognized celebration of seafood that overlaps with the first weekend of August.
U.S. Route 1 connects to the rest of Midcoast Maine
South Thomaston is a car-dependent town with no public transportation. Just north of the community, U.S. Route 1 takes drivers about 9 miles to Rockland and to MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital. On the northwestern edge of the community, small aircraft take off from Knox County Regional Airport. About 70 miles north, Bangor International Airport accommodates commercial airlines.
