Caribou, ME

0 Apartments for Rent

Caribou, Maine, also known as the most northeastern city in the United States, can boast at least two claims to fame: First, it was the largest potato-shipping hub in the world in the 1960s, then in 1984, the city was the location for lift-off of the first hot air balloon to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean.

With a population of under 8,200 residents, according to the 2010 census, and a land area of about 80 square miles, if you move to Caribou, you'll find that it's a rather quiet community. The main reason for this is that the city is not densely populated; most of your neighbors will likely be trees and various types of wildlife, rather than noisy neighbors. This makes Caribou a great place to live if you are in search of some peace and quiet!

Moving to Caribou

If you are planning to move to Caribou, you'll be happy to know that rental properties are priced a bit lower than those across much of Maine. Unfortunately, you will also find out that home rentals are quite hard to find; the majority of homes in Caribou are owner-occupied. Still, you can get lucky and find a great rental apartment if you keep your eyes open. Understand that you'll likely be looking at single-family or, in some cases, multi-family homes; property rentals in apartment complexes are not something commonly found in this northeastern city.

Because there are so few apartments available, it's important to have all of your ducks in a row before attempting to apply for a rental. This means that you should do whatever you can to optimize your credit score: Pay down excessive debt, make all of your payments on time and don't run all over town trying to take out new loans. Because just about every rental you find will be handled by the home's owners, strive to make a good impression when meeting potential landlords; remember, there are no "do overs" when it comes to a first impression, and if you leave a bad taste in a property owner's mouth, chances are, he or she will simply pick someone else.

Neighborhoods in Caribou

The city of Caribou can be divided into three distinct neighborhoods. New residents should search carefully before moving into town; after all, no one likes Renter's Remorse!

The City Center: The City Center is the northwest section of Caribou. This section is where you will find the most homes and businesses, particularly in the area right around Route 1. There are a variety of fast food restaurants in this neighborhood, or you can live it up by choosing a restaurant like Tim Hortons or Jade Palace.

Grimes Mill: The neighborhood of Grimes Mill is in the northeast section of the city. Houses here are spread out more, and living here puts you several miles away from most of the business establishments. The good news about living in Grimes Mill is that the crime rate is very low.

Maysville: Finally, the southern half of Caribou is sometimes referred to as Maysville. Here, you'll see that houses are a bit more plentiful than they are in Grimes Mill, and also that there are a few businesses sprinkled around. You'll definitely need a car, but the City Center is not too far away.

Living in Caribou

If you aren't already from northern Maine, you will need to understand that Caribou is cold...very cold! During the summer, you'll be comfortable, as daytime highs are normally in the 70s. At night, it gets pretty chilly; even during July, the average low is only 55 degrees, so you can open your windows and not worry about racking up a large air conditioning bill. During the winter, prepare to dress warmly: Daytime highs in January are around 20 degrees, and you will not want to forget to wear socks to bed, as nighttime lows this time of year fluctuate around a bitter one degree. Brrr!

If you are a nature lover, you will get your fill of wildlife in Caribou. Venture into the wooded areas, particularly outside of the City Center, and you might see black bear, moose, bald eagles, foxes and a variety of other wildlife. If you do see bear or moose, you will want to keep a healthy distance to avoid being trampled or eaten for lunch! Anyone visiting or living in Caribou will appreciate the gorgeous fall foliage, and the blooming trees and flowers in late spring and early summer each year are a sweet reprieve after the long winter.

Caribou has a lot of great features if you are looking for a rental property in a small, quiet city in northeastern Maine. Just be sure to start your housing search early so that you can find the home of your dreams!