Compare towns
Belfast vs Jackson 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jackson | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,986Highest |
567Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1 35% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 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% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jackson 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Harpswell and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
| Harpswell and Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92 16% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$2,651Lowest 13% below ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Jackson 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 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school 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.