Compare towns

Harpswell vs Kennebunkport vs Boothbay

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%).
Kennebunkport has the most people working from home (41.4%).
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.

MeasureHarpswellKennebunkportBoothbay
People
Population
5,046Highest
1,276Lowest
3,102
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.1%
ME: +2.6%
-3.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
62±1.5
38% above ME
63.1±4.2Highest
41% above ME
56.8±3.9Lowest
27% above ME
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.8%±2.6
ME: 18.1%
5.2%±5.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
11.5%±3.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
Boothbay and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.6%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
45.3%±7.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
35.4%±7.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.9%
ME: 36.2%
54.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
51.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Boothbay and Harpswell 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
$121,189±$24kHighest
62% above ME
$60,320±$17kLowest
19% below ME
Kennebunkport 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±$60k
106% above ME
$814,400±$148kHighest
175% above ME
$342,100±$43kLowest
15% above ME
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,348±$53Highest
18% above ME
—
$1,147±$121Lowest
about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,141
3% above ME
$4,255Highest
40% above ME
$2,202Lowest
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.9%±5.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
25%±45.9
ME: 48.4%
30.4%±31Highest
ME: 48.4%
Boothbay and Kennebunkport 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%
11.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%
ME: 74.3%
90.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
78.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
2 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
20% above ME
44 minHighest
79% above ME
13 minLowest
46% below ME
Work from home
20.7%±6.2
ME: 15.9%
41.4%±14.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.7%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #42 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.