What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).

Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harpswell	Dover
People
Population	5,046Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S.	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$15kHighest 19% above U.S.	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Harpswell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S.	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Harpswell and Dover 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	—	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Dover School District
High school in town	None in town	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.