Compare towns

Freeport vs Harpswell vs Ogunquit vs Townsend

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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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.

MeasureFreeportHarpswellOgunquitTownsend
People
Population
8,802
5,046
1,379Lowest
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
62±1.5
59% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Harpswell 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%
8.8%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend 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%
38.6%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Harpswell 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%
52.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
$96,250±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,400±$76k
53% above U.S.
$609,700±$60k
83% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
$1,348±$53Lowest
5% below U.S.
—
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Freeport 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.
$3,141Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.9%±5.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Townsend 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%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
20.7%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 133 in ME — — #136 of 282 in MA
School district RSU 05 RSU 75/MSAD 75 — North Middlesex
High school in town Freeport High School None in town — North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
— —
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.