What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

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	Wilder
People
Population	5,046Highest	3,087Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wilder 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 U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$15kHighest 19% above U.S.	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Harpswell and Wilder 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.	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Harpswell and Wilder 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	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Harpswell and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.