What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dedham	Harpswell
People
Population	1,656Lowest	5,046Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME	62±1.5Highest 38% above ME
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME	$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME
	Dedham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME	$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME	$1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME
	Dedham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Highest 30% above ME	$3,141Lowest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	24.9%±5.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Harpswell and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	30 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	Dedham Public Schools	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.