Compare towns
Prospect vs Hampton Beach vs Searsport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Searsport has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Prospect | Hampton Beach | Searsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 923Lowest |
2,605 |
2,655Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5 16% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.9±7.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±10.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Prospect and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsport and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17k about the U.S. average |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,303±$19kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$224,400±$78k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61 22% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,105±$87Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,225 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Searsport 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 | — | — | #109 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 20 |
| High school in town | — | — | Searsport District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.2 |
| 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.