Compare towns
Freeport vs Pelham 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Pelham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
14,449Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Freeport 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Pelham 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 |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Freeport 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Pelham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.