Compare towns
Harpswell vs Readfield vs West Bath
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%).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 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 | Readfield | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
2,651 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and West Bath 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% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| Harpswell and Readfield 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 |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 38 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.