Compare towns
Appleton vs Belfast vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Belfast has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Belfast | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
6,986Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
60.6±3.1 35% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Harpswell and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.