17 Pros and Cons of Living in Bangor, Maine Right Now

Essential Things To Know Before Moving To Bangor, ME

The pros and cons of living in Bangor are on tap for today. You will discover many great things about this city tucked away in the northeast corner of New England. However, moving to Bangor will only be for some. So, let’s dive right in.

Pros And Cons Of Living In Bangor, Maine

My top 17 living in Bangor pros and cons are:

  • Beautiful natural surroundings
  • Plenty of outdoor activities
  • Great regional foods
  • Few natural disasters
  • A modest cost of living
  • Low unemployment rate
  • Convenient travel options
  • Easy access to healthcare
  • High-quality educational options
  • Tough winter weather
  • Summers swarms of biting bugs
  • Neighborly wildlife
  • Not for your typical beach bum
  • A heavy income tax burden
  • Limited diversity
  • Higher property crime rates
  • Problems with homelessness

I will go through each of these critical points about living in Bangor. But first, allow me to address the big question of the day.

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Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Is Bangor A Good Place To Live?

Bangor is a small Maine city located in the northern part of New England. The community has a relaxed vibe, recognized as one of the better places to live in the United States.

Job opportunities, reasonable home prices, good schools, and abundant scenic beauty provide locals with a high quality of life. Couple those points with the friendly residents and stable government; living here is pretty nice.

Of course, like any city, life in Bangor has its drawbacks and won’t be for everyone. So, let’s carefully examine the pros and cons.

1. Beautiful Natural Surroundings

Here is how I sum up the beauty of the natural environment in and around the city with four simple points:

  • Penobscot River
  • Atlantic ocean coastline
  • Forested lands
  • Mountains

First, the Penobscot River runs through the city. It is a lovely setting with trails, picnic areas, parks, and live entertainment.

Second, several bays and inlets stemming from the Atlantic Ocean are less than an hour away. Closer yet are sandy freshwater beaches.

Third, forest land surrounds the city. You may be surprised to learn that Maine’s land is 90% forested. Thus, it is named the Pine Tree State for a good reason.

Fourth, within a half days drive, explore Mount Katahdin. One of the highest mountain faces in the eastern United States.

The environment plays a significant role in this next perk of living in Bangor.

2. Plenty of Outdoor Activities

First, residents enjoy close access to Baxter State Park, home to Mount Katahdin. The northernmost point where the Appalachian Trail terminates.

Furthermore, located on the Atlantic Ocean, Acadia National Park is an hour’s drive away. It is a unique and beautiful natural space and my favorite that I have visited.

Finally, there is Bangor City Forest for anyone who desires to stay closer to home.

Located on the northeast side of the city limits, you will find approximately 650 acres of protected land. The park features close to 10 miles of hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing trails.

Thus, outdoor lovers enjoy the natural environment here in many ways. Examples include:

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • River rafting
  • Skiing

Next, here is another one of the benefits of living in Bangor.

3. Great Regional Foods

Fresh Maine lobsterPin

I’m sure you know that this area is famous for its fresh-caught lobster. That’s no joke. 90% of the lobster consumed in the United States is from fishing activities off the Maine coast, not far from Bangor.

Other excellent saltwater seafood options are available too. For example, local favorites include scallops, crab, oysters, mussels, and clams.

On the other hand, did you realize the region is also known for its land-based agriculture? As a result, farms make up a good chunk of the non-forested land in Maine.

First, this region produces large volumes of potatoes. Not at the scale of Idaho, but impressive nevertheless.

They taste incredible. So, I recommend you dig into the fish and chips immediately after moving to Bangor.

Next, the area is a top producer of blueberries. Many plants grow in the wild, while farmers cultivate the rest. In either case, they have fantastic flavor.

Thus, finish that fish and chips dinner with a slice of blueberry pie. You won’t regret it!

Given all the ongoing weather-related issues around the world, this next point is one of the best things about Bangor life.

4. Few Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are rare in this region of the country.

Thus, there are no hurricanes to deal with here. Nor flooding, tornados, forest fires, or long stretches of intense summer heat and humidity.

Why move to Bangor? Here’s another good reason to consider doing so.

5. A Modest Cost Of Living

BestPlaces.net indicates that the cost of living in Bangor is about 15% less than the national average.

Average home value’s run significantly lower here versus the rest of the U.S. Also, compared to the more urbanized and densely populated areas of New England.

The housing figure is significant because your home’s costs are typically the biggest component of a family’s budget.

Other costs won’t blow your budget either. Specifically, groceries, healthcare, utilities, and transportation run at or around the U.S. national averages.

Finally, for additional savings, be sure to sign up with Rakuten. Their app is a great way to get cash back on everything you buy online.

I want to continue talking about your pocketbook. As a result, I will point out another one of the advantages of living in Bangor related to your finances.

6. Low Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate here runs significantly below the national average. Thus, jobs are plentiful here for anyone willing and ready to work.

First, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the city’s most common industries are:

  • Retail
  • Government
  • Education and health services

Furthermore, some of the largest regional employers fall into these industries, including:

  • Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
  • Northern Light Health
  • Hannaford Bros. supermarket chain
  • St. Joseph’s hospital

7. Convenient Travel Options

Bangor living provides options for anyone who needs to travel for work. Or for residents who enjoy getting out of town on vacation.

First, for regional travel by car Interstate 95 is very accessible. It makes for easy trips to the larger southern Maine cities of Augusta, the state capital. Or the largest city in the state, Portland.

Second, this city is home to a regional airport, Bangor International (BGR). This air transportation center offers convenient, hassle-free flights up and down the east coast. Also, flights in and out of Chicago are available.

Next, in case you come upon a health issue, this is another one of the good reasons to move to Bangor.

8. Easy Access To Healthcare

Next, because many of the biggest employers are hospitals, it stands to reason that this city’s residents have excellent access to health care.

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has more than 450 physicians. They provide most of the primary-care services in the area. Also, specialty care, intensive services, and a level II trauma center are available.

St. Joseph’s Hospital is a 112-bed acute care community facility supported by a network of primary care providers and specialists. The hospital is modern, accredited, and offers a broad range of services.

Finally, there is Northern Light Acadia Hospital. The facility’s expertise reaches into behavioral and mental health services.

All of these, put together, provide excellent healthcare options not typically found in small New England towns.

9. High-Quality Educational Options

First, the school system is quite good here for students in K-12. A modest student-to-teacher ratio provides evidence. Also, solid reading and math test scores.

For higher education, the city is well-positioned. There are several colleges and universities within the city limits.

Also, the University of Maine’s flagship campus is just 15 minutes away in Orono, ME. The school enrolls more than 10,000 students each year.

Okay. That wraps up my top pros of living in Bangor.

Next, let’s move on to some reasons not to move to Bangor in the first place.

17 tips about moving to Bangor, MainePin

10. Tough Winter Weather

The winters aren’t much fun in this state or Bangor specifically. However, outdoor winter sports enthusiasts may argue differently.

Cold temperatures, ice storms, and heavy snowfall are typical. The worst will knock out electricity for what seems like an eternity.

So, be prepared.

11. Summers Swarms Of Biting Bugs

For anyone moving to Bangor to enjoy the summer outdoors, watch out for these insects:

  • Black flies
  • Mosquitos
  • Midges
  • Deer flies
  • Houseflies

Furthermore, so many mosquitos and fly species live here (approaching 100) that the season lasts all summer.

True story: my wife and I got run out of a rental cabin by flies near Deer Isle. We couldn’t take it, so we found another place to stay for our weekend retreat.

This next point adds to the challenges of the outdoors. This topic represents another one of the disadvantages of living in Bangor for some.

12. Neighborly Wildlife

We humans are not the only walking creatures that enjoy living in Bangor. Specifically, you have to be comfortable sharing the community with wildlife.

For example, black bears and porcupines live in Bangor City Forest. Furthermore, sometimes a wandering bear will roam closer to neighborhoods in town.

Mostly, these neighborly residents stick to themselves and are harmless.

13. Not For Your Typical Beach Bum

rocky shoreline near Bangor, MainePin

Yes, this New England city is close to the ocean coast. However, the Maine coast is more rocky and rugged. Also, the water stays relatively cold even in the peak summer season.

Thus, if you are looking for warm sandy beaches to bum your time away, you won’t find much of that here.

So, look elsewhere for warm, white, sandy beaches with long summer beach seasons.

This next area may be the most significant financial reason not to live in Bangor.

14. A Heavy Income Tax Burden

Although the cost of living in Bangor is affordable, income taxes are not. High taxes consume financial resources, diverting money from building a better Bangor lifestyle for your family.

The state of Maine has a progressive income tax system. That’s a fancy way to say that the more you make, the higher your income tax rate.

The income tax rate for high earners is more than 7%. Also, plan on paying 5.5% in sales taxes on top of your purchases for everyday goods to sustain your lifestyle.

So, if you want to live in a low-tax state, Maine isn’t the best option. Instead, I suggest moving to nearby New Hampshire. One of the better states in the country for the low tax burden it places on residents.

15. Limited Diversity

There is a lack of diversity here. And it comes across in different ways.

First, there is racial diversity. Out of the 35,000 population of Bangor, roughly 90% are white.

Second, economic diversity is limited.

On the one hand, there are plenty of jobs. But, on the other hand, many are concentrated in the industries I mentioned earlier in the article.

Thus, you will find few business management, finance, technology, or law opportunities.

16. Higher Property Crime Rates

This next point is surprising because the best New England states have ultra-low crime rates. But, unfortunately, Bangor has higher rates of property crime compared to the rest of Maine and New England as a whole.

For example, a state like Vermont or New Hampshire has some of the country’s lowest crime rates.

Yes. There are plenty of safe places to live in Bangor. But, like any decision when moving, choose your exact location wisely. Finally, and fortunately, violent crime is less of a problem here.

17. Problems With Homelessness

To reference the local CBS news station, Bangor’s homeless population has risen from 30 to more than 200 in recent years.

Most of the homeless are in and around downtown. Thus, local business owners are frustrated as the homeless scare off some potential customers, intentionally or not.

It’s an issue that requires an intelligent solution. Government officials continue to study the problem, but downtown businesses are getting impatient.

Okay. That concludes my discussion of the pros and cons of living in Bangor.

So, allow me to wrap up with a few parting thoughts.

Pros And Cons Of Living In Bangor, Maine

Bangor is an excellent place to live in New England. Also, a good place to raise a family. However, the city has several drawbacks compared to other mid-sized cities in the U.S.

As a result, carefully examine the pros and cons before moving.

Finally, if the pros and cons of moving to Bangor do not seem like the right mix for you, then check out our archives.

Moving to the Best Places to Live and Why

Good luck with your move, and thanks for reading.

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Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.

The Pros And Cons Of Living In Bangor, Maine Explained