Compare towns
Harpswell vs Townsend vs West Bath
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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
West Bath 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 | Townsend | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
9,100Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and West Bath 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and West Bath 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 19% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Townsend and West Bath 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and West Bath 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell and West Bath 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | North Middlesex | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.