Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Freeport | Ogunquit | Scarborough | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
50%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
| Scarborough 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 71% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | Scarborough High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
ME 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.