Compare towns
Durham vs Harpswell vs Phippsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Durham | Harpswell | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
5,046Highest |
2,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phippsburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Harpswell 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None 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.