Compare towns
Freeport vs Durham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Lowest |
15,080Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Durham and Freeport 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Freeport 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Oyster River High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 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.