Bangor, Maine is named for an Irish hymn entitled “Bangor.” This hymn was supposed to have been the favorite of Pastor Seth Noble who traveled to Boston with the initial intention of naming the town Sunbury.

During the 19th Century, Maine’s forest provided supplies of lumber that brought wealth to the region. By the 1850s, Bangor was considered the lumber capital of the world and was one of the busiest ports on the East Coast. Bangor was very much engaged in shipbuilding and commerce during these years.

By the twentieth century, the shipbuilding industry was transformed by the steam and steel industries. Bangor’s sawmills and shipyards gave way to today’s dominant forest industry of pulp and paper.

Today, Bangor is the commercial and social center of Northern, Central and Eastern Maine, and is the region’s largest center of retail and service businesses. It is also a center for government, education, and employment offering residents a widely diversified economy. Unemployment normally is below both the state and federal rates.

The largest employment categories are in services, wholesale/retail trade, and government. There are also strong employment opportunities in manufacturing, transportation and utilities, construction, finance, insurance, and real estate.

Health care in the area is represented by Eastern Maine Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Acadia Hospital and the Bangor Mental Health Institute.

Cost of Living in Bangor, Maine

It is moderate when compared to the New England Region as a whole. The median single family home sells for approximately $120,000. Two bedroom apartments rent at approximately $550 to $600 per month. This rent often includes heat, water and sewer.

Public water on the average is about $10 per month with public sewer service costing about $30. More rural areas are served by private wells and septic systems. Most of the homes are heated with oil. Prices vary. Electricity in Maine has been deregulated and prices vary with market conditions.

Major taxes in Maine include the local property tax. In Bangor it is about 2.2% of the market value of your property per year. Retail sales tax is 5% with items such as food and medicine exempt.

Transportation

There is easy access to the Main Coast via I-95, and I-395 that connects to State Route 1-A and onto the Maine Coast. Canada is 90 minutes away on State Route 9.

Bangor International Airport offers over 50 flights a day to and from major cities in the Northeast, national and regional hubs, and Florida and the Caribbean.

Inter-city bus services is provided by Concord Trailways and Greyhound with frequent service to Boston and beyond. The services provide direct connections to Amtrak in either Portland, Maine or Boston.

The BAT Community Connector provides local bus service to the communities of Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Veazie, Orono and Old Town. This service is operated by the City of Bangor and is especially convenient for those who prefer not to rely on private transportation. The BAT serves many of the major employment and activity centers that include Bangor Mall and the University of Maine at Orono.

Augusta, the state capital of Maine, is about an hour away from Bangor. Portland is two hours away. Saint John New Brunswick is three hours away from Bangor. Boston and Montreal are four to five hours from Bangor, Maine.

Climate

Bangor, Maine enjoys four seasons. Temperatures rise into the 70’s by late May/early June. Temperatures rarely rise above 90 in the summer. Temperatures gradually cool through October and November with wintry weather returning around Thanksgiving. In December nighttime lows are often below freezing and daytime highs in the 30’s and 40’s. January and February bring the most of wintry weather. Below zero temperatures are possible but infrequent and rarely last for any length of time.

Snow: Crews normally have the streets plowed and sanded within 6 hours of the end of a storm. Even during the heaviest snowfalls, streets are maintained so essential business can continue. Most school districts in the area plan for three to five snow days per year. It is relatively rare for shops and businesses to close because of snow and the weather.

Winter weather offers a variety of outdoor activities in and near Bangor, Maine that includes ice skating to crossing country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.

In conclusion, Bangor, Maine is a very nice area to live and work.