Compare towns
Harpswell vs Waldo
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).
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% 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 | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Harpswell and Waldo 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 |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Harpswell and Waldo 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 |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,150±$691Lowest about the ME average |
| Harpswell and Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.