Compare towns
Freeport vs Brighton 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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Brighton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
1,167Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Freeport 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$33Lowest 45% 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. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Brighton 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Brighton School District | 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 |
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.