What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the most kids (14.6% under 18).

Harpswell has the most homeowners (83.3%).

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	Lebanon	Harpswell
People
Population	14,999Highest	5,046Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S.	$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.	$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.	$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Lebanon School District	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Lebanon High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.