Compare towns
Freeport vs Ayer 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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Freeport | Ayer | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
8,645Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Ayer 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. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Ayer Shirley School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.