What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Wayne has the most kids (13.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harpswell	Wayne
People
Population	5,046Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	62±1.5Highest 38% above ME	55.6±5.3Lowest 24% above ME
	Harpswell and Wayne 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%	13.4%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wayne and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne 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	$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME
	Harpswell and Wayne 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	$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME
	Harpswell and Wayne 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	$3,289Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Wayne 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%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest 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 minLowest 20% above ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	RSU 38
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.