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Situated near the Canadian border, Caribou ranks among the best affordable places to live in Maine. The northeastern Maine city is known for outdoor recreation and agriculture. If you decide it’s the right spot for you, you may want to research how to qualify for a mortgage as you prepare to settle there.

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Presque Isle is one of the best places in Maine to live for affordable housing. Set due east of the North Maine Woods, Presque Isle is known for its year-round outdoor recreation opportunities.

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Auburn is located a half-hour north of Portland on the Androscoggin River. It has a walkable downtown, is home to multiple employers, and is Maine’s fifth most populous city. This combination of job opportunities, natural beauty, and amenities help make it one of the most affordable places to live in Maine. If you’re thinking about bidding on a reasonably priced home in Auburn, you might want to prep by getting preapproved for a home loan.

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Situated between Portland and the Lakes Region, Windham offers country living in fairly close proximity of employers, amenities, and outdoor activities. Parents will give an A+ to its school system, which ranks above average in the state. If you are starting to shop for a home, it can be wise to acquaint yourself with how mortgage prequalification vs. preapproval compare.

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West of Portland, Gorham is home to University of Southern Maine and features a walkable town center with restaurants and shops. Gorham is less than 30 minutes by car from Portland. The combination of being a college town and close to Portland can make it a wonderful setting to raise a family.

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Falmouth can be one of the best places to live in Maine for families, who will appreciate that the Portland suburb has one of the state’s top-ranking school systems and offers a range of year-round recreational opportunities for families, including boating, skating, and golf.

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Located on the west bank of the Kennebunk River, Gardiner is a historic community and one of the best places to live in Maine to stretch your housing budget further. About 14% of residents are ages 20 to 29. Gardiner is within commuting distance of Augusta, Maine’s capital, as well as less than an hour’s drive from Portland.

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Waterville is a college town offering cultural amenities and recreation opportunities. It’s home to both Colby and Thomas Colleges, and it’s sited on the banks of the Kennebec River. About 18% of the population is between ages 20 and 29.

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Orono is one of the best places to live in Maine for young adults. A whopping 38% of the population is between ages 20 and 29. Home to the University of Maine, Orono has museums, hockey games and other sport events, restaurants, and nearby trails and parks for year-round entertainment. Looking into first-time homebuyer programs in Maine might be a wise move if you want to rein in your housing costs when moving to Orono.

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Waterville, making another appearance on this list, is also a popular place to live for retirees. Around 17.4% of the population is aged 65 or over. Home to two colleges — Colby College and Thomas College — the midsize city has a lively arts and cultural scene, including museums, the Maine Film Center, and the Waterville Opera House.

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Lewiston is Maine’s second largest city and retirees will find it attractive because of its blend of cultural and outdoor attractions. Around 18.2% of the population is aged 65 or over. Lewiston is located around halfway between Portland and Augusta.

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Maine’s capital, Augusta, is another retiree-friendly community. Roughly 23% of the population is aged 65 or over. Augusta’s downtown is filled with restaurants, shops, and breweries, while the surrounding area is great for outdoor recreation.

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Rockland is located in the heart of midcoast Maine, where lobster fishing is still big business. The area boasts the Farnsworth Art Museum, fine dining, and a beautiful rocky coastline with the occasional sandy beach. If you long for both a tight-knit community and a spirit of adventure, Rockland might be just the place for you.

If you are thinking of financing a home in Rockland, you might benefit from spending some time on a home loan help center site to learn some smart strategies for getting the right mortgage for you.

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Situated in southern Maine, York is an affordable place to live near the water. It’s a coastal community with multiple sandy beaches. The historic town is also a popular destination for golfers, whale watching, and kayaking. York is located less than 10 miles from the New Hampshire border and within a one-hour drive of the metro Boston area.

With a median home value of $704,703, homebuyers may have a better chance of qualifying for different types of mortgage loans here, compared to pricier Ogunquit.

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Kennebunk is a southern Maine town to the west of (pricier) Kennebunkport. Kennebunk is known for its sandy beaches, outdoor recreation, and charming downtown straddling the Mousam River. A jumbo mortgage loan may be required for some of the homes in Kennebunk.

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A suburb of Salt Lake City, Kaysville is known as a welcoming place with lots of parks and open spaces. Residents of the area appreciate its excellent school system. The town’s household income is high and unemployment is low, which gives residents more purchasing power for their homes.

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Located just outside of Provo between the Wasatch Mountains and Utah Lake, Spanish Fork is a suburban community with plenty of activities and interesting attractions. For instance, Spanish Fork is home to the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, a striking Hindu temple that hosts an annual Holi Festival and other community events.

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Orem draws families and young adults alike. The town is just minutes away from Provo, so it’s convenient for those who study or work at Brigham Young University. It’s also close to Utah Lake for swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking. There are lots of new developments, however, helping to create a larger supply of homes for buyers.

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Provo is a hot spot for family-friendly things to do, from the Museum of Natural Curiosities, to the indoor aquatic center at the Provo Rec Center. And residents appreciate the area’s good school system. There are some costlier homes here as well as some good buys. Homes priced on the high end may require a jumbo loan mortgage.

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Located near Salt Lake City, South Jordan is a growing suburban community with lots of young families. It’s an easy commute to the city, thanks to the public transportation system. In the evenings and on weekends, families can spend time together exploring the area’s parks, trails, and museums.

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This large city is filled with fun activities and attractions for families with kids. There’s a zoo, an aquarium, and a natural history museum, just to name a few. You can catch scenic views of the city by hiking the Living Room Trail at Red Butte Ridge. There, the kids can climb the “sandstone furniture” at the peak. Remember, if you buy a home now, and rates drop later, mortgage refinance is always an option.

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With a strong job market and a bustling urban center, Salt Lake City is a great place for young adults. Sports fans can check out the NBA’s Utah Jazz or take in a women’s or men’s professional soccer match. There are lots of parks to explore, plus an active nightlife scene for socializing.

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Just 15 minutes south of Salt Lake City, Midvale is an affordable community with an easy commute to Salt Lake. The town has lots of other young people; the median age is 32. And there’s plenty of entertainment for young adults, including Top Golf and live music. If you have your heart set on buying, these tips to qualify for a mortgage could come in handy.

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This bustling town has lots of good restaurants and breweries to enjoy. Many tech companies have launched in the area, making it a great place to live without a long commute. Plus, many other young adults live in the area, so you’ll be able to meet plenty of your peers. Lehi is one of the U.S. cities with the largest population growth in recent years. This may create a more competitive real estate market for first-time homebuyers.

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Over 20% of St. George’s population is 65 years or older, and it’s no surprise why so many retirees have chosen to settle here. It’s stunning! The city is surrounded by incredible red sandstone cliffs, and the weather is mild. No wonder St. George has been one of the fastest growing cities in the state.

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Nephi has a smaller senior population than St. George — in fact, it accounts for just 8% of the residents. But this charming small town, located about 40 minutes south of Provo, has much to offer. There’s plenty to do, including golfing, fishing, and hiking (or driving) through the scenic canyons. There are rental bargains to be had, too.

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For seniors who don’t mind winter snow, Bountiful, which is a suburb of Salt Lake City, boasts a charming historic district and lots of parks. It has a senior population of just under 15%. Its proximity to the city means you can enjoy everything Salt Lake has to offer whenever you like.

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Whether you love to hike, rock climb, or mountain bike, Ogden has what you’re looking for. Plus, the town has a lovely historic district for dining and shopping. As you walk through town, the mountains make a beautiful backdrop. It can be helpful to explore different types of mortgage loans to find the best financing before you purchase.

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Located an hour south of Provo, the small town of Mount Pleasant is surrounded by mountains and canyons. Hikers will enjoy it here. There are lots of hiking trails at several nearby national parks, including Manti-La Sal National Forest and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

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Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do in Moab with its striking red rock canyons and arches and two national parks. The town itself has a charming downtown area with shops and restaurants, plus a museum that has collections of dinosaur bones and other artifacts. While median values are above the national average, there are first-time homebuyer programs in Utah that could help.