Compare towns
Harpswell vs Bristol vs Kennebunk
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).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Bristol | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
2,917Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
61±3.2 36% above ME |
54.6±3.3Lowest 22% above ME |
| Harpswell and Bristol 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% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Kennebunk and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Harpswell 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 |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk and Harpswell 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Bristol 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 | — | #16 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.