Compare towns
Harpswell vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Phippsburg 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 | Strong | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
1,249Lowest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg 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% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phippsburg and Strong 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Phippsburg 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 |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,022±$346 10% below ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Highest 3% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,034 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phippsburg and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.