Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Freeport vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Bowdoin | Freeport | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Lowest |
8,802Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13kLowest 22% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Harpswell and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Harpswell 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.