Compare towns
Harpswell vs Waldo vs Boothbay
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).
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 | Waldo | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
926Lowest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay 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 |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% 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 |
$342,100±$43k 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,147±$121Lowest 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 |
$2,202 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Boothbay 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% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
20 min 20% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest 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 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.