What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).

Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% 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	Harrison	Parsonsfield
People
Population	2,513Highest	1,715Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-5.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56±3.6Highest 25% above ME	44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%	25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4%	18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Harrison and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME	$72,045±$18kHighest 4% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME	$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME	$1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME
	Parsonsfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,731Highest 10% below ME	$2,350Lowest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.5%±24.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	12%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 24% above ME	48 minHighest 97% above ME
Work from home	22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 17/MSAD 17	—
High school 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.