The sign people see on I-95 as they enter the state reads, "Maine: The Way Life Should Be." This may seem boastful to some, but there are reasons to believe Mainers enjoy a good work-life balance. Yes, there are places where the gentry have driven up rents and mortgages into a range that might be called expensive by any standard -- Cape Elizabeth might be one of those places, and it takes a fair amount of time to get from there to the business districts of Portland, and the traffic can be cruel.
But there are many cities and towns in Maine where the rents are reasonable and the commutes are low, where one steps outside one's workplace and finds oneself immediately surrounded by natural beauty. Here is a short list of such places, where work and life are nicely balanced.
Augusta is the state capital, and the kind and quality of jobs available there run the gamut, from top-level professional career jobs to casual labor. Augusta is home to the University of Maine at Augusta, one of the region's major employers, and is also the third-smallest state capital, with 58.03 square miles. Average hours worked per household is 37.7. Average commute in these parts is 15.5 minutes, not bad for a state capital. Median household income is $38,263, and the cost of living is 97.10, so a bit cheaper than the national average. Recreational activities include the Belgrade Lakes to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean 40 minutes away to the southeast. It's located on the mighty Kennebec River, and which offers excellent fishing and boating, as well as access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Fort Kent is home to the University of Maine's Fort Kent campus, as well as being home to an Olympic Biathlete training center. It's way up there in the far northern tip of Maine, just across the Saint John River from Quebec. It's a great place to go if you're trying to learn French, because better than 62 percent of households here speak French on a daily basis. The work-life balance is pretty good, too. The average household only had to work 36.2 hours, with an average commute time of 14.7 minutes. The median household income is $37,378, but the nicest datum is that the cost of living index in Fort Kent is 91.70, so it's almost 10 points lower than the national average.
Aroostook County is the largest American county east of the Rocky Mountains, and is about five times bigger than the State of Rhode Island. If you like the color yellow, you should come up to Presque Isle during the late summer or early fall, when the hills and valleys around the town are covered in big, yellow potato blossoms. Presque Isle is the largest city in Aroostook County. It's a college town, home to University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College, and Husson University Presque Isle. Presque Isle offers a nice work-life balance. The average household works 36.7 hours a week, and brings in $36,706 to maintain that laid-back lifestyle. The average commute is just 11.2 minutes, and the cost of living index is just 92.3. Not bad at all! Amenities include the Nordic Heritage Center and Ski Trails, Aroostook State Park, and several museums.
Machias is a fascinating place, especially if you're interested in American history. The first naval battle of the Revolutionary War took place just off shore, and its history as a battleground dates back to 1633. The search for evidence of those events is a pleasant undertaking for some of the locals, who have plenty of time and money to pursue such interests. Machias offers Maine's best work-life balance. The average household works 35.3 hours a week here, and brings in $35,326. The average commute here is just 13 minutes, and the cost of living index is just 87.70.
