Compare towns
Harpswell vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
5,611Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
55.1±3Lowest 42% 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boothbay and Rye 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 19% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rye 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±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 about the U.S. average |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Rye 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.