Compare towns
Harpswell vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
6,758Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Lowest 43% 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% |
12.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith 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% |
34.2%±5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boothbay and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 about the U.S. average |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.