Compare towns
Harpswell vs Hampden 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).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Phippsburg 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 | Hampden | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
7,896Highest |
2,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Phippsburg 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 |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,833±$19k 44% above ME |
| Hampden and Phippsburg 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 |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
| Harpswell and Hampden 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 |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phippsburg and Harpswell 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% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 22 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.