Compare towns

Kennebunkport vs Boothbay vs Harpswell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunkport has the most people working from home (31.6%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureKennebunkportBoothbayHarpswell
People
Population
3,684
3,102Lowest
5,046Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%
ME: +2.6%
-3.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+6.1%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
59.1±5
32% above ME
56.8±3.9Lowest
27% above ME
62±1.5Highest
38% above ME
Harpswell and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
11.5%±3.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
8.8%±2.6
ME: 18.1%
Boothbay and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.9%±8
ME: 22.4%
35.4%±7.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
38.6%±4.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Harpswell and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.3%
ME: 36.2%
51.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
52.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
6%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Boothbay and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,747±$30kHighest
37% above ME
$60,320±$17kLowest
19% below ME
$96,250±$15k
29% above ME
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$740,500±$109kHighest
150% above ME
$342,100±$43kLowest
15% above ME
$609,700±$60k
106% above ME
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,429±$296Highest
25% above ME
$1,147±$121Lowest
about the ME average
$1,348±$53
18% above ME
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,914Highest
29% above ME
$2,202Lowest
27% below ME
$3,141
3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.8%±20.1
ME: 48.4%
30.4%±31Highest
ME: 48.4%
24.9%±5.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Boothbay and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.4%
ME: 74.3%
78.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
83.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
38% above ME
13 minLowest
46% below ME
30 min
20% above ME
Work from home
31.6%±9.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.7%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.7%±6.2
ME: 15.9%
Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #42 of 133 in ME — —
School district RSU 21 — RSU 75/MSAD 75
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.