Yes, with two things to plan around. Water is easy here, with about 45 inches of rain a year and wells near 30 feet. The growing season is about 138 frost-free days and winter sun is weak, so plan on a greenhouse and a bigger battery bank or a generator. Septic will likely cost more, because rock or a hard layer sits about 22 inches down.
What the land says
Rain
Rain can supply much of a household's water with a large tank. A garden mostly waters itself in normal years.
About 45 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 30 feet deep; a well typically runs $4,000 to $9,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 138 frost-free days, USDA zone 5a; last frost about May 17, first about October 2
Sun
Fair sun. Plan a larger array or a generator for winter.
About 4.4 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones are rare here. Still, look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps no flood zones nearby
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Moderate here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; no strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado within 25 miles since 1990
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 7%, about 1,200 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 22 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, somewhat poorly drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.6 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Maine parcel, or plan the one you own
Get a free 0-100 off-grid score.
A step-by-step build plan, sizing your solar, water, garden, septic, heat, and buildings.
Is it legal here?
Zoning
Set by the town, not the county. In the Unorganized Territory, over half the state, the state Land Use Planning Commission zones instead.
Building code
Maine's statewide code (the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, based on the 2021 International Residential Code) applies everywhere, and owners must follow it even where the town does not enforce it. Only towns of more than 4,000 people must enforce it with permits and inspections.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Drilled to about 30 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$3,000 to $9,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$36,000 to $76,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 22 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Zoning
Call the town or township office with the parcel's address.
Set by the town, not the county. In the Unorganized Territory, over half the state, the state Land Use Planning Commission zones instead.
Road access
Confirm the parcel fronts a public road or has a recorded easement.
Without one, you may not have a legal way in.
Nearby counties
51,302 people live in Somerset County, about 13.1 per square mile. It ranks tied for 14th of the 16 Maine counties we scored, and Maine ranks 29th of 50 states.