Compare towns
Dedham vs Harpswell vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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%).
Orland has the most affordable homes ($277k 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 | Dedham | Harpswell | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
5,046Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Dedham 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±$15k 29% above ME |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% below 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±$33k 20% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$277,100±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,149±$177Lowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Orland and Harpswell 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% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 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.