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.


She's a Beauty

LookyLOO Review of Bangor

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](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Small Town Life

Lifestyle 

Bangor’s public schools are rated well by most ratings agencies, scoring a [B+ on niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/bangor-public-schools-me/), an acclaimed public high school, and a serviceable trade school. [Beal University](https://beal.edu/), [University of Maine at Orono](https://umaine.edu/), and [Husson University](https://www.husson.edu/) 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. 


Schools 

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.


Zen-like Charm

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**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](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/bangor/reviews).

Reviews of Bangor from Locals

Fairmount is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Bangor. Located near the [**Fairmount Park**](https://bangorme.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=8700) and the [**Bangor Golf Course**](https://www.bangorgc.com/), recreation options are in no short supply in Fairmount. Also of note is the [**Fairmount Market**](https://fairmountmarket.com/), a deli of nearly one hundred years of age, prized by locals for its delicious sandwiches. [**Fairmount Elementary School**](https://fairmount.bangorschools.net/) is a part of the Bangor School District, and ranks highly amongst the populace while retaining a 7/10 rating. A wide variety of homes, with a myriad of size and price options, also decorate the area, making it accessible to families of all sizes and income levels. Median home price is $289,000.


Families

Fairmount

Home to the city’s most famed resident, Stephen King, the [**Whitney Park Historic District**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Park_Historic_District) is where the upper crust of Bangor resides. With wide streets and luxurious mansions built by the lumber barons of yesteryear, wealthy residents of Bangor have little to complain about when it comes to this upscale neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and flanked by the [**Bangor Theological Seminary**](https://bts.edu/), Whitney Park is a truly scenic residential area for those in a higher income bracket. [**Fairmount School**](https://fairmount.bangorschools.net/), [**Vine Street School**](https://vinestreet.bangorschools.net/), [**James F. Doughty School**](https://jamesdoughty.bangorschools.net/), and [**Bangor High School**](https://bangorhigh.bangorschools.net/), all acclaimed and accredited, all serve the neighborhood as well. Median home price is $500,000.


Families/DINKs

Whitney Park Historic District

Little City is a quiet and highly sought-after area. US Senator Susan Collins is a resident. Median real estate price clocks in at over $300,000, making it a middle-tier neighborhood for costs in the state, with most homes being single-family residences and apartment buildings, and many of them historic homes. A common boast among residents is the ability to ride your bike to work every day. [**Mary Snow School**](https://marysnow.bangorschools.net/), a small elementary school, is in the neighborhood.


Families/DINKs/SINKs

Little City

Home to one of the most [**lovely parks**](https://bangorme.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=8704) in all of Bangor, Bangor Gardens features easy access to walking trails and basketball courts. Bangor Gardens is also home to [Abraham Lincoln High School](https://abrahamlincoln.bangorschools.net/) and [**The Learning Garden**](https://www.thelearninggardenccps.com/), both highly regarded schools. Rental homes in Bangor Gardens are relatively affordable for those in lower income brackets, while single-family homes are available for purchase at around $185,000. 


Bangor Gardens

Single-family homes in the beautiful Judson Heights neighborhood range in price from approximately $250,000-$450,000. The area boasts a very strong sense of community, with trick or treaters, lost and founds, and classified ads helping to foster bonds between families. Elementary schoolers frequently attend the well-regarded [**Mary Snow School**](https://marysnow.bangorschools.net/) for elementary and [**William S. Cohen**](https://williamcohen.bangorschools.net/) for Middle School before going on to Bangor High School. Residents often praise the abundance of yard space and wide-open land in Judson Heights, giving it a sprawling and natural vibe that can be difficult to resist. 


Judson Heights

Bangor

**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.

**spaceghostinme**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I'm biased as I've lived in the area all my life, but I love Bangor. There is a good, growing food scene, the downtown has improved quite a bit, and there's great access to outdoor stuff. It's safe and overall pretty chill. It doesn't have the cultural scene of Portland, but there are plenty of things to enjoy, between the concerts, Penobscot Theatre Company, events at the university, and venues like Queen City Cinema Club. Oh, and we now have a couple of options for fiber Internet in most of the city if you need/want it.

For downsides, housing and apartment prices are still not great. It's not as bad as the Portland area, but it seems that they are still way higher than they should be. I bought my house 7 years ago for ~$180k and estimates now have it valued at ~$330k+... There is a homelessness issue, which is probably not entirely unrelated, but also not different from Portland, etc, and likely on a smaller scale.

**Jwoods224**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I live outside of Bangor. I may be biased because I moved from the DC area, but I would say Bangor is a great little town. It’s by far the safest place I’ve ever lived. There is a homeless population, but it’s nothing like what bigger cities deal with. Even Portland has much more of a problem. Plenty of good options for food and it seems to be getting better as time goes on. It’s also the friendliest place I’ve ever lived. The town and people seem to be investing in the area to make it nicer. That is the sense I get. The only thing that baffles me is the price of homes. To me it seems a bit high for the population and medium income of the area. I’d imagine it’s not worse than York though.

Bangor, Maine

Queen City

Looklyloo Score: 90

Reviews

What's it like to live in Bangor?