Compare towns
Brunswick vs Epping vs Freeport vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Brunswick | Epping | Freeport | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
7,430 |
8,802 |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Epping and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 52% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Freeport 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Epping School District | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Epping High School | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.