Compare towns
Harpswell vs Kennebunkport vs Bristol
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%).
Bristol has the most kids (13.9% 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 | Kennebunkport | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
1,276Lowest |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5 38% above ME |
63.1±4.2Highest 41% above ME |
61±3.2Lowest 36% 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% |
13.9%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bristol and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
45.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunkport and Bristol 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% |
52.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Harpswell and Bristol 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 |
$121,189±$24kHighest 62% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Bristol 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 |
$406,400±$54kLowest 37% 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 |
— | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$4,255Highest 40% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±45.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunkport 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% |
11.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
44 minHighest 79% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
41.4%±14.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport and Bristol 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 | — | #42 of 133 in ME | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.