Compare towns
Freeport vs Benton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Benton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
2,770Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 44% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| 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 66% above ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Topsham 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 | #85 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.