Compare towns

Freeport vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit 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 renters (22.4% rent).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

MeasureFreeportLancasterOgunquitTopsham
People
Population
8,802
8,606
1,379Lowest
9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
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%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
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±$19k
33% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
Lancaster 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.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
—
$1,355±$642Lowest
4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Freeport 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 #145 of 282 in MA — #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Nashoba — 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 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.