Compare towns
Freeport vs Bowdoin vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
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 | Freeport | Bowdoin | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
3,188Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 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+ | 26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 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 | $107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,239±$13kLowest 22% 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 | $508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$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 | $5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.5% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | 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.