Compare towns
Harpswell vs Topsham
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 expensive homes ($610k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,046Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham 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±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
| Harpswell and Topsham 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 |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Harpswell 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 |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.