Compare towns

Freeport vs Meredith 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

Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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.

MeasureFreeportMeredithOgunquitTopsham
People
Population
8,802
6,758
1,379Lowest
9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%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.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.7±4Lowest
15% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Meredith 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%
12.6%±3.3
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%
34.2%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
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.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$91,028±$10k
13% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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±$76k
53% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
$1,355±$642
4% below U.S.
Freeport and Topsham 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.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
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.
1975Lowest
5 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.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 133 in ME #62 of 120 in NH — #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District — RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Freeport High School Inter-Lakes High School — Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
11.1Lowest
—
12.2Highest
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.