Compare towns
Nelson vs Ogunquit vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Harpswell has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Nelson | Ogunquit | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,379 |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
62±1.5 59% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.