Thomaston’s 18th-century roots and local pride
Thomaston is a tranquil and historic town in the Midcoast region of Maine. Within Knox County, Thomaston is located between the St. George River and the city of Rockland. “It’s a small town right on Main Street; coastal Route 1 runs right through Thomaston,” says Albert Howard, a real estate associate at Re/Max Jert & Cohn who does business in Thomaston. Through its museums and preserved buildings on and near Main Street, Thomaston maintains its legacy dating back to 1777, when the town was incorporated. Thomaston keeps the community spirit alive in the present day, too. The town hosts family-friendly events throughout the year like Fourth of July fireworks and Fall Festival, a weekend-long celebration with hayrides and a pumpkin carving contest.
Thomaston’s historic attractions
The Museum in the Streets preserves Thomaston’s history in a series of plaques describing what life was like in the 19th century. Exhibits at The Knox Museum focus on the town’s role in the Revolutionary War and on General Henry Knox, for whom Knox County is named. Several buildings along Main and Knox Streets are on the National Register of Historic Places; these 18th- and 19th-century buildings include striking examples of French Second Empire, Queen Anne and Federal architecture.
Thomaston has modern and historic homes
Homes with grassy lawns sit next to one another along streets shaded by leafy trees. They were built between the 1700s and 2000s, with the oldest—often New Englanders and Victorians—at the center of town, and Cape Cods and ranch-style homes branching out further from the center. Prices typically begin at $130,000 and can reach around $710,000, depending on factors like size and renovations. The median single-family home price is about $270,000. Fixer-uppers can fall between about $130,000 and $210,000. The overall CAP Index Crime Score in Thomaston is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
The shopping and dining scene in Thomaston
Thomaston has a mix of locally owned businesses and national chains. In downtown Thomaston, locals can hang out at FlipSide Coffee, try barbecue from Station 118 and get lunch at Thomaston Café, which has served the community for about 25 years. Thomaston Grocery is recognizable by its mural painted by local artist Nancy Baker depicting a day in the life of colonial-era residents. Shoppers downtown can also browse antique shops and Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, an antique auction house. Further up U.S. Route 1, there’s a movie theater, car dealerships and big-box stores like Lowe’s Home Improvement and Tractor Supply Company. This commercial sector is where a new Jersey Mike’s and Starbucks are scheduled to open in 2025. “People are really excited about the new Jersey Mike’s,” Howard says. “People can’t wait when a store opens. Everyone talks about it, like when T-Mobile moved next to Verizon.”
Situated along the St. George River
Thomaston sits along the St. George River, which flows into the Atlantic. In fact, in 1605, Captain George Waymouth, an English explorer, landed at the site of present-day Thomaston and became the first Englishman to make landfall in what would become the United States. For many subsequent generations, this coastal location made the town a natural fit for the shipbuilding industry, and the custom boatbuilding industry carries on that legacy today. There is a public boat launch into the St. George River, a tidal estuary where anglers can fish for striped bass and alewife. Folks can also go paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing on the river.
Thomaston has family-friendly parks
Thomaston has several spaces dedicated to outdoor recreation. From June through September, Thomaston Green hosts Second Sunday Picnics in the Park, a family-friendly event with activities like lawn games. Volunteer-maintained Thomaston Dog Park has lots of space for dogs to roam and play, including separate fenced-in sections for small and large dogs. Residents can also spend the afternoon at one of the area’s wooded hiking trails or at Ancient Oaks Disc Golf Course.
Students are zoned for MSAD 13 schools
The Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 13, rated C-plus on Niche, serves the town. Elementary students may attend B-plus-rated Thomaston Grammar School, which recognizes students with end-of-year awards for creativity, courage and academics. The public school pipeline continues with Oceanside Middle and Oceanside High, which are both rated C-plus. In addition to fulfilling coursework obligations, high school students are required to complete 50 hours of community service to be eligible to graduate.
Driving through Knox County and beyond
Thomaston is a car-dependent community with no public transportation. U.S. Route 1 is the only major highway to go through Thomaston, and traffic can get congested downtown. This thoroughfare takes drivers 5 miles to Rockland, 7 miles to MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and up the coast of Maine. Private aircraft take off from Knox County Regional Airport about 8 miles away, while commercial flights are available at Bangor International Airport about 65 miles north.
