Moving to Winthrop, Maine

by btobers · Published June 17, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Winthrop, Maine is a small city located in Kennebec County, about 15 miles north of Augusta. Geographically, the city is situated on the east side of the Kennebec River and is surrounded by rolling hills and farmland. The climate in Winthrop is temperate with cold winters and warm summers.

The history of Winthrop dates back to 1771 when it was first settled by settlers from Massachusetts. The town was incorporated in 1820 and has since been known for its strong sense of community and small-town charm. Politically, Winthrop is a non-partisan municipality that operates under the mayor-council form of government.

The economy in Winthrop relies heavily on agriculture, with many local farms producing corn, apples, potatoes, hay, and other crops. The city also has a strong tourism sector that includes camping sites and outdoor recreation areas. In addition to farming and tourism, there are several small businesses located within the city limits that provide employment opportunities for its citizens.

When it comes to education in Winthrop, there are two public schools: Winthrop Elementary School and Winthrop Middle School. Both schools offer a rigorous curriculum as well as extracurricular activities such as sports teams, music programs, drama clubs, student council meetings, and more. There are also several private schools located nearby for those who wish to pursue an alternative educational option.

When it comes to landmarks in Winthrop there are many places worth visiting such as Oak Hill Country Club which offers golfing facilities for those who enjoy hitting the links; Pine Grove Cemetery which houses the gravesites of many former residents; Fortin Park which offers plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking trails; Moore’s Brook Falls which cascades down into a picturesque pool; as well as several historic buildings such as the Old Town Hall Building which dates back to 1824 or the Farrar Mansion which was built in 1826 by prominent businessman Joseph Farrar Jr..

Population: 6,232. Estimated population in July 2024: 6,480 (+4.0% change)
Males: 3,085 (49.5%), Females: 3,147 (50.5%)

Kennebec County

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.9 years
Median household income: $41,733
Median house value: $97,300

Population by Race

Races in Winthrop:

White Non-Hispanic (98.0%)
Hispanic (0.5%)

Ancestries: English (26.5%), Irish (14.3%), French (13.3%), United States (8.9%), French Canadian (8.8%), German (5.9%).

Elevation: 225 feet

Land area: 5.6 square miles

Map of Winthrop, ME

Population by Education

Winthrop, Maine is a small town located in the Kennebec Valley region of Maine. The population of Winthrop as of 2019 was 4,818 according to the US Census Bureau. The town has a diverse population composed of both long-time residents and newcomers from all over the world. The majority of the population is white, followed by African American or Black, and Hispanic or Latino. In terms of religious affiliations, the largest group is Catholic, followed by Protestant and other Christian denominations. There are also small populations of Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths in Winthrop. The town also has a high number of veterans due to its proximity to Augusta and Bangor Air Force Base.

The median age in Winthrop is 41 years old which is slightly higher than the median age for Maine at 39 years old. The median household income in Winthrop was $50,432 in 2018 which is slightly lower than the median household income for Maine at $55,153 for 2018. In terms of education level, almost 85% of adults over 25 years old have at least some college education with almost 35% having a Bachelor’s degree or higher. These numbers are much higher than some other towns within Maine as well as across America as a whole where only 30% have achieved such levels of education attainment.

For population 25 years and over in Winthrop

High school or higher: 85.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.0%
Unemployed: 4.3%
Mean travel time to work: 24.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Winthrop town

Never married: 20.1%
Now married: 56.9%
Separated: 1.4%
Widowed: 8.6%
Divorced: 13.0%

3.2% Foreign born (1.4% North America, 0.9% Europe, 0.8% Asia).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Winthrop:

AUGUSTA MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE (about 15 miles; AUGUSTA, ME)
CENTRAL MAINE MEDICAL CENTER (about 22 miles; LEWISTON, ME)
ST MARYS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 22 miles; LEWISTON, ME)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Winthrop:

BRUNSWICK NAS (about 30 miles; BRUNSWICK, ME; Abbreviation: NHZ)
PORTLAND INTL JETPORT (about 52 miles; PORTLAND, ME; Abbreviation: PWM)
BANGOR INTL (about 87 miles; BANGOR, ME; Abbreviation: BGR)

Other public-use airports nearest to Winthrop:

LAKESIDE MARINA (about 6 miles; EAST WINTHROP, ME; Abbreviation: 03M)
WALES (about 11 miles; WALES, ME; Abbreviation: ME6)
SEVEN G S (about 12 miles; MOUNT VERNON, ME; Abbreviation: 75B)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Winthrop:

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT AUGUSTA (about 15 miles; AUGUSTA, ME; Full-time enrollment: 3,172)
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON (about 27 miles; FARMINGTON, ME; Full-time enrollment: 2,229)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE (about 49 miles; PORTLAND, ME; Full-time enrollment: 7,381)
SAINT JOSEPHS COLLEGE (about 56 miles; STANDISH, ME; Full-time enrollment: 2,376)
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND-UNIVERSITY CAMPUS (about 67 miles; BIDDEFORD, ME; Full-time enrollment: 2,251)
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE (about 104 miles; ORONO, ME; Full-time enrollment: 8,590)
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE-MAIN CAMPUS (about 107 miles; DURHAM, NH; Full-time enrollment: 12,586)

Schools

Public high school in Winthrop:

WINTHROP HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 342; Location: 211 RAMBLER ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Winthrop:

WINTHROP GRADE SCHOOL (Students: 368; Location: 23 HIGHLAND AVENUE; Grades: KG – 05)
WINTHROP MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 240; Location: 400 RAMBLER ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)

Libraries

Library in Winthrop:

WINTHROP – BAILEY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $126,090; Location: 39 BOWDOIN STREET; 23,098 books; 854 audio materials; 1,267 video materials; 76 serial subscriptions)