menu
Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.

Harpswell, ME
Real Estate & Demographic Data






Harpswell profile


Living in Harpswell



Harpswell is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Maine. With a population of 5,074 people and two associated neighborhoods, Harpswell is the 76th largest community in Maine.

Harpswell home prices are not only among the most expensive in Maine, but Harpswell real estate also consistently ranks among the most expensive in America.

A relatively large number of people in Harpswell telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 20.66% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Another notable thing is that Harpswell is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Harpswell’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.

Because of many things, Harpswell is a great place for families with children to consider. First of all, many other families with children live here, making Harpswell a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families, as well as find family-oriented services and community. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic values. With regard to real estate, Harpswell has a high rate of owner-occupied single family homes, which tends to reflect stability in the local community. Finally, Harpswell’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

Residents will find that the town is relatively quiet. This is because it is not over-populated, and it has fewer college students, renters, and young children - all of whom can be noisy at times. So, if you're looking for a relatively peaceful place to live, Harpswell is worth considering.

One of the nice things about Harpswell is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities.

Harpswell is a small town, and as such doesn't have a public transit system that people use to get to and from their jobs every day.

Do you like to read, write and learn? If you move to Harpswell, you'll likely find that many of your neighbors like to as well. Harpswell is one of the more educated communities in America, with a full 52.91% of its adults having a college degree or even advanced degree, compared to a national average across all communities of 21.84%.

The per capita income in Harpswell in 2022 was $70,110, which is wealthy relative to Maine and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $280,440 for a family of four. However, Harpswell contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

The people who call Harpswell home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Harpswell residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Harpswell include Irish, English, German, Italian, and French.

The most common language spoken in Harpswell is English. Other important languages spoken here include Polish and French.