Living in Bangor, Maine

Bangor is an absolutely beautiful part of the New England landscape. Its lush forests, clean air, seaside cliffs, and neighboring mountains make for some of the best preserved nature in the country. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, someone looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, or someone looking to raise a family in a picturesque rustic paradise, you will find Bangor to your liking. This also extends to the city itself, filled with gorgeous architecture and striking landmarks such as the Paul Bunyan statue, as well as a downtown area that practically leaps off of a postcard; the views in Bangor are second to none.

Bangor's rural charms and out-of-the-way nature are part of its appeal; to some, this can prove a bridge too far. The long, cold winters can be a dealbreaker to many, as is the fact that it’s a long drive from most major cities. There is also a lack of diversity in terms of ethnic and religious makeup, with the majority of the population being white and Christian; if this is something you might find isolating, perhaps another location is to your liking. The lack of diversity also extends to the job market- if you are not in retail, healthcare, or education, and you do not work remotely, you may struggle to find jobs in the area.

The lifestyle of Bangor favors those who enjoy a simpler life. While there are a decent number of historic sights, bars, restaurants- particularly for seafood lovers-, concert venues, sporting events at the local colleges, and tourist spots such as the house of noted horror author Stephen King, Bangor is ultimately a small city (albeit with a pretty cool downtown) located in the heart of the wilderness. There are an abundance of trails for biking, running, and hiking, easy access to both the river and the seashore for fishing, and plenty of public parks for simply relaxing in the sunshine. Additionally, Bangor is considered a good place to raise a family and a good place to retire by most residents.

We highly recommend visiting Bangor and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

Bangor’s public schools are rated well by most ratings agencies, scoring a B+ on niche.com, an acclaimed public high school, and a serviceable trade school. Beal University, University of Maine at Orono, and Husson University all provide higher education options in the area, with strong discounts offered by public universities to in-state residents. Part of the reason for the city’s popularity with families is the plentiful options for schools, so consider your educational needs met.

If you’re looking for a quiet life of rustic charm and spectacular natural landscape in a secluded part of the country, are looking to start a career in healthcare or education, or simply want to raise a family somewhere with clean air and friendly locals, Bangor, Maine, may just prove to your liking.

hike_me
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I lived in Bangor for a few years when I was out of college.

It has great access to the outdoors: it’s a reasonable drive for day trips to Acadia, rock climbing and bouldering (Clifton, Acadia), and it’s not too far from Baxter. Canoeing, kayaking. UMaine has a trail network you can ski/snowshoe/bike on. There is a park in Bangor with single track mountain biking. Bangor City Forest has trails for Nordic skiing / walking. There are new mountain biking and cross country ski trails near Millinocket.

There are sports/cultural events at UMaine. It’s also a regional service center for a huge geographic area so has more shopping and healthcare options than most communities with a population of 33k. It’s much cheaper than southern Maine but the population probably skews older.

For more reviews of what living in Bangor is like from locals, check out The Reviews.