Compare towns
Harpswell vs Durham vs West Bath
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 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 | Durham | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
4,262 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and West Bath 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and West Bath 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 |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath and Durham 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 |
$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
— | $1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| Harpswell and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | West Bath 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.