South Portland Maine Real Estate A Comprehensive Guide to South Portland & Community Resources The City of South Portland is a coastal community in southern Maine encompassing an area of 12.93 square miles. The city has been referred to as two cities, with the western half of the city hosting commercial, industrial and advanced technology property and the eastern half of the city sporting a community college, a beach area, several parks, one of the State´s largest marinas, a municipal boat ramp, a maritime museum and the second busiest oil port on the entire East Coast. South Portland was a primarily a residential community that broke away from Cape Elizabeth in 1895. In 1940 a shipyard was established to build cargo ships for Great Britain and things began to change. When the United States became involved with World War II the shipyard expanded and turned out 236 of the 440 foot long Liberty Ships, more than 10 percent of all the Liberty ships built during the war years. At its peak, the shipyard employed some 30,000 people, but eventually ceased operations after the war ended in 1945. South Portland changed dramatically in 1971 when the Maine Mall opened its first twenty stores of August of that year. In the last 30 years this area has evolved from farmland into the largest retail, commercial, and office complex north of Boston. On the bay side of South Portland, Spring Point is surrounded by Casco Bay and offers great views of the islands and the breakwater. From here you can visit both Spring Point and Bug Light, which guard the entrance to Portland Harbor. The lighthouses and the ruins of Fort Preble are reachable from the waterfront campus of Southern Maine Technical College on Fort Road. From the park you can see the entire Portland skyline across the water.  Demographic Statistics    South Portland    National Avg            Rainfall (inches)   43.2   36.6   Snowfall (inches)   71.5   25.2   Precipitation Days   131   101  Sunny Days   196   205   Comfort Index   56   44   Elevation (feet)   45   1,062   Air Quality   18   48   Water Quality   69   55   Sales Tax   5%   6%  Property Tax Rate (per $1,000)   13.69   13.28   Commute Time (minutes)   19.3    27.4   Cost of Living   98%    100  South Portland, Maine - Community Resources For more South Portland information, including entertainment, dining, city services, education and home sales statistics, follow any of the links below:   ... South Portland Local Area Resources           South Portland is a suburban community that offers open spaces, parks and recreational areas for residents and visitors. There is a strong balance with local businesses and residents. With close proximity to Cape Elizabeth and Portland, there are many ties to a large metropolitan environment as well. [Learn More]         ... South Portland Education Services & Schools           South Portland is a growing and dynamic schools system. Its five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school serve approximately 3,100 students in grades K-12. In the 2005-2006 school year, the city celebrated the completion of the renovation of all of the district's elementary schools. [Learn More]         ... South Portland Homes Sales & Statistics           In 2006, although sales of single family homes dropped 10.4% (compared to 2005) average prices remained stable. The average home price was $256,948 and the median price was $226,000. Unit sales of 312 were 37 below the rate of 2005. [Learn More] Relocation to South Portland & Southern Maine If you are considering a move to South Portland or the Southern Maine area, be sure to take advantage of our online Relocation Services, a comprehensive guide to interactive relocation tools. Our services include access to local market information, neighborhood and school comparisons and a wealth of proven home buying advice. If you are interested in receiving automatic email alerts of properties that match your predetermined buying requirements, you might want to consider our Market Watch feature. This is a great way to stay current with the market whether you are buying now or in the future.