Compare towns
Harpswell vs Sutton vs Upton 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 the oldest population (median age 62).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Upton | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,046 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boothbay and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Harpswell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,147±$121 19% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 about the U.S. average |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.