Compare towns
Harpswell vs Nelson vs Ogunquit
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 renters (16.7% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Nelson | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
648Lowest |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5 59% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Harpswell and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.