Compare towns
Topsham vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Topsham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 7,271Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $100,024±$18kHighest 34% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
| Topsham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,500±$24kLowest 31% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,491±$1kHighest 31% above ME |
$1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
| Topsham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,431Highest 46% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±14.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.