Compare towns
Belfast vs Appleton vs Waldo vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the most renters (31.5% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
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 | Belfast | Appleton | Waldo | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,986Highest |
1,360 |
926Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1 35% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below 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 | 14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 42.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 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 | $67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
| Harpswell and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Harpswell and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Waldo 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 | RSU 71 | Appleton Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.