Compare towns
Belfast vs Dover vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,986 |
33,364Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1 56% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 33% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 71 | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.