Compare towns
Freeport vs Hampton Beach vs Harpswell
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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Hampton Beach | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
2,605Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and Hampton Beach 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Harpswell 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| 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±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.