Compare towns
Harpswell vs Bristol vs Phippsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bristol has the most kids (13.9% under 18).
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Harpswell | Bristol | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
2,917 |
2,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
61±3.2 36% above ME |
54.3±6.3Lowest 21% 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%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Bristol and Phippsburg 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% |
34.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phippsburg 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 |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Phippsburg 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±$54k 37% above ME |
$335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Highest 3% above ME |
$2,668 12% below ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phippsburg 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% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | — | #16 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bristol Public Schools | 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.