Compare towns
Freeport vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Lyme | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Harpswell 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 |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Lyme 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. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | 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.