Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Stow 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 the most affordable homes ($508k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Stow | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62±1.5 59% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Stow 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±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Stow 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 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 |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Nashoba | 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 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.