Compare towns
Freeport vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
6,758 |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and Meredith 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% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$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±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Freeport 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.