7 Reasons to Move to Bath, Maine

Bath (locally known as the City of Ships) may be a small town in terms of residents, but with so much to see and do, it has an expansive sense of culture and community. If you’ve been living in a city, we think you’ll find the sense that the natural world is part of Bath refreshing. It’s filled with trees, close to beaches, and has plenty of trails to walk or run.

Here are our top seven reasons you should consider moving to Bath, Maine.

Livability

The median household income in Bath, at $42,000, is lower than the natural average, it’s true, but when you take into account the low median home price and low rent, you can see that Bath is quite affordable. You can purchase a home for about $194,000 here, and the average rent is just $770 a month. Of course, if you’re a long-distance worker who makes a good living, you’ll find it especially affordable in Bath.

If you’re used to life in a highly populated area, you may be in for a bit of culture shock, but in a good way. The population of Bath is just 8,320, so you’ll often run into the same people and start developing a sense of community. That goes for the rest of your family too, including your children. In Bath, the student to teacher ratio is 14 to 1, so each child gets plenty of individual instruction.

Plus, just going about your business may have a calming effect. The landscape is covered in trees, and many buildings are from the late 18th century through mid-19th century, giving the town an old world charm.

Yes, it gets cold here, but many people enjoy cold weather. If that’s you, you’ll be happy in Bath.

Beaches

You’ll enjoy spending time on the beaches, including visiting Popham Beach State Park with its picnic areas, sandy beaches, places to take a walk, and amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. Just north up the coast is Reid State Park and Beaches with large beach areas where people enjoy relaxing in the sun during the summer. Of course, there are other beach areas, including at the mouth of the Kennebec river.

Green Nature

Aside from the beaches, there are plenty of other places to enjoy the beauty of the natural world. Take a sightseeing tour in Sewell Pond Conservation Area, or take a hike along a trail in Thorne Head Preserve. Visit Merrymeeting Bay, fed by six rivers, including the Kennebec and Androscoggin, a great place to do bird watching. You’ll definitely want to look for bald eagles.

Another great place to hike is the 5 mile long Whiskeag Trail, which follows Whiskeag Creek through a forest habitat. The trail is free to visit and open from sunup to sundown.

You can also literally get out on the green and go golfing at The Bath Golf Club, Mere Creek Golf Course, Main Street Bath, and Highland Green Golf Club.

Boating

If you own a boat, you’ll be glad to know there are a couple of excellent marinas where you can moor it. Robinhood Marina is just 10 minutes from Bath, and Long Beach Marina is on the waterfront in Downtown Bath.

Fresh Food Year Round

Yes, a lot of places have farmers markets, but when you live in a town of 8,300 people, there’s little excuse not to visit yours. The Bath Farmers Market takes place year round, every Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Get your fresh meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables, cheese, pastries, and a lot more. Just head down to Waterfront Park with your cloth shopping bag and a full wallet.

Summer Music

If you enjoy a variety of live music, you will be well-entertained during summers in Bath. The Bath Maine Summer Concert Series takes place over the course of the summer three times a week. On Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:00 pm, head down to the Gazebo for acts like the Bach Swing Band, the Bath Municipal Band, and others. On Saturdays, head to Waterfront Park at 6:00 pm for rock and folk music performed by a variety of bands. This is also a good opportunity to hang out with friends or meet new people.

Art Galleries

The Green Lion Gallery features handmade, limited-edition art prints provided by the original artists. The Markings Gallery has art in various forms, from paintings to textiles to sculptures. The Chocolate Church Arts Center features musical and dance performances, an art gallery, dramatic performances, and more. Finally, the Center Street Arts Gallery showcases paintings and sculptures from its member artists.

One word we feel truly sums up live in Bath is “charming.” If you want to live a charmed life, it’s a great place to move to. So if you're looking to move to Maine, with so much to do and a wonderful place to raise a family, give Bath consideration. Spaceman Self Storage is here to help you with your moving needs and to answer any questions you may have about the area. Not sure what size unit you may need while you're between homes? Check out our video storage guide to help you find the right one!

Want to learn more about what other things you can do in Bath? We highly recommend checking out VisitBath.com for even more things you can do in the City of Ships.