Compare towns
Harpswell vs Old Orchard Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Old Orchard Beach has the most affordable homes ($367k 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 | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,046Lowest |
9,244Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
58±3.5Lowest 29% above ME |
| Harpswell and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Harpswell and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Old Orchard Beach 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 ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
| Harpswell and Old Orchard Beach 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 |
$3,426Highest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Old Orchard Beach 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 | — | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.