Compare towns
Harpswell vs Biddeford vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 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 | Harpswell | Biddeford | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
22,498Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Biddeford and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average |
| Harpswell and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
| Biddeford and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Biddeford 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Biddeford Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— |
| 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.