The Town FilesHarpswell, Maine
Town in Cumberland County · population 5,031 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $609,700
- Household income
- $96,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 62.0
Harpswell is a town of 5,031 people in Cumberland County, Maine. The median home is worth $609,700, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Maine towns, more seaside character than 90% of Maine towns, hipper than 88% of Maine towns.
How Harpswell ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Harpswell is worth $609,700, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $96,250, which is more affordable than 4% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,348 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harpswell | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $609,700 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,348 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $96,250 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.5% | — |
Who lives in Harpswell
| People | Harpswell | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.6% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 8.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.7% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 90.0% |
Weather in Harpswell
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 50.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 71.3 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harpswell since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on November 24, 2005 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 24, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 28, 1986.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4785: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 192,475 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,351 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Harpswell itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Harpswell
1 public school with 129 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harpswell Community School | K-5 | 129 | 12.9 |
Towns near Harpswell
- Freeport, ME9.7 mi · 8,737 people · home $508,400
- Yarmouth, ME10.0 mi · 8,990 people · home $639,700
- Brunswick, ME10.7 mi · 17,033 people · home $363,200
- Brunswick, ME11.2 mi · 21,756 people · home $376,300
- Yarmouth, ME11.9 mi · 6,125 people · home $576,900
- Portland, ME12.7 mi · 68,408 people · home $489,600
- Cumberland Center, ME14.2 mi · 2,739 people · home $539,500
- Cumberland, ME14.4 mi · 8,473 people · home $616,800
Harpswell questions
Is Harpswell, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harpswell scores better for retirees than 94% of Maine towns and quieter than 41%. 38.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.0).
How much does a house cost in Harpswell?
The median owner-occupied home in Harpswell is valued at $609,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,250, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $1,348 a month.
What is the weather like in Harpswell?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.0 inches of precipitation a year and 71.3 inches of snow.
Does Harpswell get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harpswell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on November 24, 2005. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)