Cape Elizabeth Maine Real Estate

A Comprehensive Guide to Cape Elizabeth and Community Resources

Cape Elizabeth enjoys a unique position on the Maine coastline. Extending nearly twelve miles into the Atlantic ocean and surrounded by rocky shores and white sandy beaches, Cape Elizabeth defines the entrance to Casco Bay - Maine's most natural harbor and working waterfront.

Most of Cape Elizabeth's residential and commercial activity are within close proximity to the seacoast, as is typical along the Maine coast. The town is approximately 9,337 acres, or 15 square miles and the most recent census figures estimate the town's population at just under 10,000. Population density is minimal at less than 500 residents per square mile. Cape Elizabeth is a spectacular combination of suburban living in a rural environment.

The coast of Maine is riddled with rocky outcroppings, reefs, ledges, and small islands, making navigation dangerous and challenging. For hundreds of years, lighthouses on the mainland have helped guide ships safely into harbors, and those on barren rocks in the ocean have helped ships avoid treacherous shoals and ledges.

The town includes two islands, Ram and Richmond. Ram Island is very small and unoccupied. Nearby is Ram Island Ledge, a recently privatized lighthouse.   Richmond Island is larger at 226 acres, but is also uninhibited, except for a small herd of sheep.

Strong Sense of Community

This beautiful coastal town is one to consider for the discriminating homebuyer.  Within a few miles there are many attractions, including Two Lights State Park, Fort Williams State Park and Crescent Beach.  All of these areas provide abundant natural beauty and are excellent for hiking, fishing, and the occasional picnic. Portland Head Light is the oldest and most photographed lighthouse in America.

Cape Elizabeth is essentially a bedroom community, with primarily residential area and open spaces.  Real estate tends to be a little pricier and the residents often find lucrative employment in the nearby larger cities. These kinds of communities are known for housing and retail sales as opposed to manufacturing, technology or entertainment.

There is little new construction within the city and most sales are of existing homes. Because the town is so close to Casco Bay, there is not much room for expansion.  Some of the towns unique neighborhoods include Broad Cove and Two Lights, located along the ocean.  Cross Hill and Elizabeth Farms are two neighborhoods of upscale homes on large lots, some with views of the marsh. Older, most established oceanfront homes can be found in Delano Park.

Historical Significance

Portland Head Light is the oldest of Maine's 66 lighthouses. It was built during the presidency of George Washington and is the oldest operating and most photographed lighthouse in America.

On April 13, 1894, President McKinley named the one-time subpost of Fort Preble, Cape Elizabeth's first military fortification, Fort Williams. Named after Brevet Major General Seth Williams, Fort Williams grew to be a tremendous military asset during World War II.

Besides protecting the shoreline of Cape Elizabeth, the infantry and artillery units provided the Harbor Defense for Portland. After the war, many of the forts in Casco Bay were closed, including Fort Williams, which traded in its defense of the coast for caretaker status and Army Reserve accommodations. Fort Williams was officially closed and deactivated on June 30, 1963.

For more information about how Cape Elizabeth compares to the national average, you can refer to the detail statistics below:

Local Cape Elizabeth Resources

For more Cape Elizabeth information, including entertainment, dining, city services, education and home sales and real estate statistics, follow any of the links below:

		Cape Elizabeth Maine Real Estate Resources		Quick Home Search
		Cape Elizabeth Local Area Resources
		Cape Elizabeth, located five miles east of Portland, is known for its outstanding natural beauty, including the Atlantic Ocean and its diverse coastal geography ranging from sandy beaches, dunes, and salt water marshes to rocky cliffs.  [Learn More]
		Cape Elizabeth Education Services & Schools
		With the emphasis on academics, more than 90 percent of graduates go on to post-secondary education. In addition to strong academic programs, about 80 percent of middle and high school students participate in extra-curricular activities ranging from sports to debating to the arts.  [Learn More]
		Cape Elizabeth Homes Sales & Statistics
		Home prices are significantly higher in Cape Elizabeth compared to homes in Portland and other nearby towns. As one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the region, entry level homes begin around 250K.  [Learn More]
		Moving to Cape Elizabeth & Southern Maine: Relocation & Lifestyle
		Collecting valuable, concise and accurate information is important in making an informed decision.  When it comes to Southern Maine, our Relocation Services Center is designed to provide you with local data and insight that you can trust. For a complete relocation package to be mailed to you, please complete our online request form.  It features our exclusive Area Guide, sales statistics, community proflies, videos, school updates and local maps. Geo-Spatial Lifestyle Search If you are interested in learning about the area you might also want to try our Lifestyle Search. This interactive geo-spatial map allows you to see, in real-time, what the local area offers along many different lifestyle parameters.  You can locate and plot schools, communities, neighborhoods, restaurants, churches, gyms, shopping and just about any amenity – and identify distances to homes you are interested in.