Compare towns
Freeport vs Middlesex vs Putney 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below 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 |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% 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 | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.