Three Maine Towns up for ‘Best Small Town’ in Northeast

Maine is home to so many incredible small towns, so it’s no surprise that three of ours are in the running to be named the best in our region!

We’re not trying to be selfish or gatekeep the best spots in Maine, but let’s be real—what makes our small towns so special is that the tourists haven’t found them yet.

So, what exactly are we talking about? Who’s deciding the ‘Best Small Town’ in the Northeast, and how is it determined?

USA Today's Readers’ Choice Awards selects the best small town in the Northeast by first having an expert panel nominate 20 towns with fewer than 25,000 residents, chosen for their scenic beauty, historic charm, local food, and cultural attractions. Then, the public votes to decide which town takes the top spot.

Now that we've cleared that up, which three Maine towns are nominated for the title of ‘Best Small Town’ in the Northeast for 2025?

According to USA Today and their Readers’ Choice Awards—which is determining the best small town in the Northeast—three of the 20 nominated towns are right here in Maine: Bar Harbor, Castine, and Wiscasset.

Bar Harbor, Maine

Castine, Maine

Wiscasset, Maine

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So, how can we make sure one of our Pine Tree State towns takes the top spot in USA Today's contest?

To help one of our Maine towns win USA Today's contest, just head to their website and vote once per day until polls close on Monday, March 31st at noon. The winning small towns will be revealed on Wednesday, April 9th, so keep voting daily to give Maine a shot at the top spot!

There you have it—Bar Harbor, Castine, and Wiscasset are officially in the running to be named the best small town in the Northeast!

What do you think about USA Today's nominations? Is there a small town you think got snubbed? We’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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