Compare towns
Harpswell vs Eliot 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 the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Eliot has the most kids (16.3% 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 | Eliot | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
7,146Highest |
2,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg 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% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Eliot and Phippsburg 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% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg 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% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phippsburg and Eliot 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 |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Eliot 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 |
$498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
| Harpswell and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 min 9% below ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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.