Warren is a slice of Americana in Midcoast Maine's countryside
Neighboring Midcoast Maine towns like Rockland and Thomaston, Warren is a small hamlet on the St. George River that offers a slower pace of life near busy coastal areas. “Warren’s town center is very Americana,” says Melanie Trott, who’s sold homes in the area for 15 years and is a broker and owner at The MidcoastHome Real Estate Co. “Price point is a big driver for people to decide to look in Warren. You can get a bit more bang for your buck and still be within a nice distance to amenities, towns and convenient roads. The second driver would probably be the character of some of the old Victorians that are in that village. They’re really beautiful: big front porches with swings on them and American flags out front. It’s very sweet.” The community is situated along U.S. Route 1, and Thomaston and Rockland are within 10 miles.
Spacious rural properties and lakefront homes
“Warren is very agricultural, so there's a lot of space and rolling hills and little farms,” Trott says. Its farmhouses and cabins usually sit far apart on spacious, secluded properties. Some of these were built as early as the 1700s, while others are New Traditional designs from the 2000s. “If you really wanted 2 or more acres, or livestock or something like that, Warren is a wonderful place to do that,” Trott says. Cape Cod, New Englander and Queen Anne houses are more common along Warren’s Main Street; these sit on at least half an acre, allowing enough space for a driveway, detached garage and mature trees. Prices typically range from $270,000 to $500,000, and manufactured homes can range from $80,000 to $280,000. Lakefront homes often have private docks and scenic views; these can range from $530,000 to $1.3 million. Some properties near ponds and the St. George River are at high risk of flooding and might require flood insurance.
Riverfront parks, pond access and indoor soccer
Warren’s parks sit along the St. George River. Kayakers and canoers can launch their boats from Payson Park, which also has a playground, picnic tables and walking trails. Woolen Mill Park hosts the annual Warren Days festival, which has celebrated the town’s heritage for over 60 years. The event includes a parade, a strawberry rhubarb pie contest and a chicken dinner. Lakefront residents have private access to North Pond and Crawford Pond, and a public ramp at South Pond allows anyone to take the boat out and fish for bass and northern pike. The Pitch is an indoor sports facility that offers leagues for kids and adults in sports like soccer and field hockey.
Locally owned eateries and farm stores feed Warren
On Main Street, St. George Pizza has a rustic vibe and river views; it serves square, Sicilian-style pies and soft-serve ice cream cones. Nearby, Papa Jack’s is a locally owned food stand known for its lobster rolls and burgers. Lincoln’s Country Store is the go-to spot for meat and pantry staples. From April through December, Beth’s Farm Market offers locally sourced produce, baked goods and lobsters. More restaurants and shopping options are in Thomaston, Waldoboro and Rockland.
Route 1 connects to nearby towns and amenities
U.S. Route 1 leads about 5 miles to Thomaston, 7 miles to Waldoboro and 10 miles to Rockland. Augusta is roughly 32 miles away via back roads and state Route 17. While there are sidewalks along Main Street in the town center, residents usually rely on their cars to get around. Houses of worship here include Warren Baptist Church and Second Congregational Church of Warren. MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital is 12 miles away. Bangor International Airport and Portland International Jetport are both around 70 miles away.
Regional School Unit 40 serves the area
Kids attend schools in Regional School Unit 40, which earns an overall rating of C-plus from Niche. Elementary schoolers can start at the C-plus-rated Warren Community School. Kids then go to the B-minus-rated Medomak Middle and the C-plus-rated Medomak Valley High. High schoolers can join the MVHS Players, which performs three productions each year. In the spring, they put on a Dessert Theater, where they perform a play and serve pie from Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro during intermission.
Many commute to work, while farms and prisons provide local jobs
Trott says that most of Warren’s residents commute to towns like Rockland or even Augusta for work. Agriculture is a big industry closer to home, and the maximum-security Maine State Prison and the minimum-security Bolduc Correctional Facility are also big employers.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
