Vienna offers small-town charm and outdoor fun
Just over 20 miles from Augusta, Vienna is a heavily wooded town with about 600 residents in the northwestern part of Kennebec County. This rural community offers four-season recreation, from deer hunting to snowmobiling, but summer is when vacationers come to Vienna to enjoy the serene, picturesque ponds and hiking trails. “Vienna is all about the water frontage, ponds and lakes in the greater Belgrade Lakes region,” says Amy Wilbur, a native Mainer and broker at Lakepoint at Portside Real Estate Group, who specializes in the Belgrade Lakes region. “It’s a very quiet community in a rural area, but centrally located within 30 minutes of the hospital and big-box stores.”
The ponds and hiking trails of Vienna
As part of the Belgrade Lakes Region, Vienna has access to nine large ponds, where folks can go swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking and canoeing. In the winter, the ponds support ice fishing and ice skating. Flying Pond is the largest pond; it has a public boat ramp and is the main draw for seasonal visitors.
Hikers have plenty of forested, hilly terrain to explore, from the rugged Kennebec Highlands to the summit of McGaffey Mountain, the highest peak in the county. While on the multi-use trails in the Kennebec Highlands, mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders may encounter moose and other wildlife in the woods. The Peter Miller Woodland Loop Trail is a 1.5-mile natural path that loops through gentle terrain, past a stream and two ponds.
Wooded lots in Vienna offer privacy
Homes typically sit far apart along quiet, tree-lined country roads. Vienna includes Cape Cod and ranch-style homes as well as rustic, waterfront properties tucked into the woods. Properties often sit on one or two acres of land buffered by trees. About 93% of homes are owner-occupied. Prices range from about $230,000 to $650,000, increasing with square footage and private dock access to Flying Pond. Along the western border of the town, homes on the banks of the McGurdy Stream face an increased flood risk. Land is also available.
Students are zoned for Mt. Blue Regional School District
The Mt. Blue Regional School District, rated C-plus on Niche, serves the town. Elementary students may attend Cape Cod Hill School, rated B-minus, before advancing to C-plus-rated Mt. Blue Middle and C-rated Mt. Blue High. The high school partners with Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG), a nonprofit that organizes classes and activities to foster career development, leadership, community service and teamwork among students. Specifically, JMG students at Mt. Blue High organize the Winter Carnival and other school events. A nearby private option is Kents Hill School, rated A-plus and ranked by Niche as the best private high school in Maine.
Civic groups offer community in Vienna
Vienna was the birthplace of Milton Bradley, the creator of The Game of Life board game, who was born here in 1836. The Vienna Historical Society aims to fully restore the 190-year-old family home of Milton Bradley and turn it into a museum; historical society member and playwright Beverly Wight Smith writes plays every year, which are performed to earn money for the cause. Residents can also attend community gatherings organized by the local library and other civic-minded groups. Dr. Shaw Memorial Library hosts knitting and crocheting group meetings and lectures on gardening and weather.
Shopping and dining in Mt. Vernon and Farmington
Although there are no sit-down restaurants in Vienna, Scapes Café in nearby Mt. Vernon serves quiche, sandwiches and freshly baked treats for breakfast and lunch. The only convenience store in town is Flying Pond Variety, where locals can stock up on food, fill up on gas and grab a hot lunch. Otherwise, the neighboring town of Farmington has groceries at Hannaford and Walmart.
Rural Vienna requires cars for travel and sees broadband progress
With no public transportation options, Vienna is a car-dependent community. Drivers can access U.S. Route 2 just north of town, which leads west to the New Hampshire-Maine state line and east towards Bangor. Vienna lies about 15 miles southeast of MaineHealth Franklin Hospital. Portland International Jetport and Bangor International Airport are both about 80 miles away. In terms of the area’s broadband infrastructure, connectivity is improving. Many communities west of Augusta have not had broadband, so Vienna got its own in August of 2025.
