Compare towns
Harpswell vs Dedham vs Bristol
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%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 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 | Dedham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
1,656Lowest |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
61±3.2 36% 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest 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% |
49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dedham 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Harpswell and Bristol 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% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest 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 | Dedham Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.