Vassalboro offers small-town charm and immersion in nature
Vassalboro is a rural community between Augusta and Waterville with abundant trees, farms and bodies of freshwater. “It’s a smaller town with close proximity to amenities, hospitals, shopping and recreational opportunities,” says Amy Wilbur, a native Mainer and broker at Lakepoint at Portside Real Estate Group. On the weekend after Labor Day, the town comes together for events like bake sales, yard sales and apple picking at the local orchard as part of Vassalboro Days. To mark its 250th anniversary in 2021, Vassalboro switched to solar for most of its municipal buildings and infrastructure. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4. This Kennebec County community appeals to buyers seeking access to nature and a slow-paced lifestyle.
An abundance of outdoor fun in Vassalboro
Vassalboro offers a variety of outdoor recreation, from paintball to disc golf to hiking. Hikers, birdwatchers and dog walkers can explore several nature paths in the area. The biggest nature preserve is the 366-acre Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat, which includes trails through the forest and wetlands by Webber Pond. Anglers can fish for largemouth bass in Webber Pond. On the town’s eastern edge, a public boat ramp leads into the West Basin of China Lake, where folks may spot ducks and various shore birds while fishing or canoeing. Natanis Golf Course has two public 18-hole courses, making it the only course in Maine with 36 regulation holes. A snowmobile trail runs through Vassalboro and connects to other paths within the state’s network of snowmobile trails. Disc golfers have their choice of courses, as both Burnsboro Disc Golf and Porcupine Ridge Disc Golf offer 18 challenging holes. V-Town Paintball invites paintballers of all skill levels to take their best shot on any of the multiple courses, and participants can either bring their own equipment or rent everything on-site.
Most Vassalboro homes are owner-occupied and surrounded by nature
Homes sit along quiet, rural roads on spacious, grassy lots. Properties aren’t clustered in subdivisions; homeowners can expect privacy amongst trees and farms. The residential landscape includes ranch-style and Cape Cod-style homes and symmetrical New Englander architecture. Gabled roofs are common, and decks provide views of the countryside, including colorful foliage in the fall. There are also some waterfront properties with private docks on Webber Pond. Prices range from about $170,000 to $680,000, depending on factors like square footage and acreage. About 82% of homes are owner-occupied.
Vassalboro high schoolers have school choice
Vassalboro Public Schools, which is not yet rated on Niche, is the district serving the town. The only school within the district is C-rated Vassalboro Community School, which serves around 400 elementary and middle schoolers. The school has five 3D printers for staff and students to use and technological devices available for each individual student. High schoolers have school choice. Students may opt for one of the region’s public schools, like Winslow High, or attend a private school, like Erskine Academy; both are rated B-minus. The town covers the cost of attendance at private, non-religious high schools up to the equivalent of the state average tuition.
Vassalboro’s limited shopping and dining options
Renarda’s Kitchen is the local diner and the only restaurant in town, and Pleau’s Market is a family-owned grocery store just north of Vassalboro. “People coming to the area typically bring all their own provisions,” Wilbur says. “If they do go out, they go towards Augusta and Hallowell ; there are many fine restaurants that way.” One of them is Otto’s on the River, which serves seafood, cocktails and vegan options along the Kennebec River; inside, colorful walls and plush armchairs create an elevated yet comfortable atmosphere. Marketplace at Augusta is a strip mall with national chains like Walmart and The Home Depot.
Highways in the Vassalboro area
Too rural to be walkable and lacking public transportation options, Vassalboro is a car-dependent community. U.S. Route 201 parallels the Kennebec River along the town’s western edge, leading 8 miles north to Waterville and 11 miles south to Augusta. In Augusta, drivers can access Interstate 95, the East Coast’s main north-south artery. U.S. Route 202 briefly runs through the southeast corner of Vassalboro, which also leads into Augusta as it traverses the state.
