Compare towns
Harpswell vs Harrison 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
West Bath has the most kids (14.7% 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.
| Measure | Harpswell | Harrison | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
2,513 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
56±3.6 25% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| West Bath and Harrison 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% |
29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Harrison 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% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Harrison 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 29% above ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath 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 106% above ME |
$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,112±$327 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 | $3,141 3% above ME |
$2,731Lowest 10% below ME |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Harrison 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | 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.