Compare towns
Freeport vs Peabody 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%).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
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 | Peabody | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
54,695Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Peabody 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% |
24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Peabody 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. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Peabody 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. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,065Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Peabody 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% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport and Harpswell 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Peabody | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.