Photo: Troy R. Bennett · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Harpswell is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Harpswell differs from Maine on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 04079, 04066, 04003. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harpswell
Harpswell keeps up with checkups
It beats Maine on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.7% vs 81.2%) and dentist visits (74.9% vs 63.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Harpswell
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (13.4%), vs 9.9% across Maine. Age is part of it: 39% of residents are 65 or older (Maine 22%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Harpswell adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (28.4% vs 32%), frequent mental distress (13.9% vs 17.7%), lack of emotional support (19.6% vs 22.7%) and depression (23.5% vs 26.9%) all run below Maine. Mind & connection ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Maine figure falls outside Harpswell’s likely range; Harpswell’s figures come from ZIP codes 04079, 04066, 04003, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Harpswell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harpswell is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, #15 of 143 in Maine. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 93% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 57%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Harpswell’s median household income is $96,250; among the 9,140 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Harpswell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Harpswell adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Harpswell does better than Maine.
3 in 10 Harpswell adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Out of every 100 Harpswell adults…
Harpswell runs below ME on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Harpswell is an older town: 39% of residents are 65 or older, vs 22% across Maine. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Harpswell as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Harpswell
No hospital or community health center in Harpswell itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Harpswell; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
25 miles of trails across 36 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8% of Harpswell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Harpswell and the towns around it
Harpswell’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpswell | A | 26.3% | 11.6% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
| Brunswick | A | 25.5% | 9.1% | 10.3% | ZIP 04011 |
| Freeport | A | 27.1% | 9.8% | 11.1% | ZIP 04032 |
| West Bath | B+ | 30.3% | 10.7% | 14.6% | ZIP 04530 |
| Phippsburg | A− | 28.7% | 11.2% | 12.7% | ZIP 04562 |
| Chebeague Island | — | — | — | — |
Chebeague Island: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Harpswell adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harpswell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harpswell is better than Maine on 20 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Harpswell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harpswell | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%12.9–18.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.6–15.3 | 14.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.3–15.6 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.3%22.7–30 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10–13.1 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.1%37.1–43 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%37.6–43.6 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.7%32.8–38.4 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.4%12.3–14.7 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.4–9.5 | 7.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.3–9.2 | 8.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.5%7.1–10.2 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.9%7.8–12.1 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%14.9–20.9 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.9–15.7 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.2%23.2–29.4 | 32.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.1–6.7 | 7.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.7%82.6–86.7 | 81.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.9%72.6–77.2 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.3%91.1–93.4 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.2–83.1 | 76.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 79.4%76.6–81.9 | 70.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%75.7–84.3 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%21–26 | 26.9% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%25.6–31.5 | 32% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.6%17–22.3 | 22.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.3%4.8–7.9 | 10.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6%4.8–7.2 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%3.7–5.4 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.3–6.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8%6–10.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.8%25.2–32.3 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.2–15.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.9–13.3 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.3 | 8.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.1–4.2 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.6–7.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.6–3.6 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Harpswell
Is Harpswell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harpswell is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A for health, #15 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harpswell?
CDC estimates 26.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.7% and 30%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harpswell?
Mainehealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, 12.6 miles in a straight line from Harpswell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harpswell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.1–6.7%), against 7.8% across Maine.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Harpswell more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Harpswell.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.