Compare towns
Harpswell vs Ogunquit vs Eliot vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Eliot | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,046 |
1,379Lowest |
7,146 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5 38% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and Eliot 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
— | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,469±$99 29% above ME |
| Eliot and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Eliot 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.