Compare towns
Harpswell vs West Bath 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
West Bath has the most kids (14.7% 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 | West Bath | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
1,863Lowest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above 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% |
14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| West Bath and Boothbay 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% |
29.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay 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±$15k 29% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| West Bath and Harpswell 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 |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
$1,147±$121 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | West Bath Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.