Compare towns

Freeport vs Arlington vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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.

MeasureFreeportArlingtonTopsham
People
Population
8,802
2,598Lowest
9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
37.6±4Lowest
3% below U.S.
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Arlington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,326±$19kHighest
33% above U.S.
$102,308±$11k
27% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
Freeport and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,400±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$318,500±$59kLowest
4% below U.S.
$360,800±$20k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,191±$172Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,355±$642
4% below U.S.
Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042Highest
62% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9
U.S.: 51.1%
77.1%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Arlington and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Arlington 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 #4 of 133 in ME #50 of 70 in VT #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Arlington School District RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Freeport High School Arlington Memorial Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
10.6Lowest
12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.