Compare towns
Harpswell vs Exeter vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 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 | Exeter | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
16,151Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
56.8±3.9 46% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Harpswell 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 about the U.S. average |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
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. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.