Compare towns
Harpswell vs South Eliot vs Phippsburg
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 people working from home (20.7%).
South Eliot has the most kids (15.2% under 18).
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | South Eliot | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
4,203 |
2,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
55.5±8 24% above ME |
54.3±6.3Lowest 21% above ME |
| Harpswell and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| South Eliot and Phippsburg 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% |
32.8%±6.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg 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% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phippsburg 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 29% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Phippsburg and South Eliot 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 |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
$335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Phippsburg 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.