Compare towns

Freeport vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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.

MeasureFreeportPlainfieldHarpswell
People
Population
8,802Highest
1,314Lowest
5,046
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% above U.S.
62±1.5Highest
59% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
8.8%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
38.6%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Freeport and Plainfield 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.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$96,250±$15k
19% above U.S.
Freeport and Harpswell 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.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% 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
$1,153±$103Lowest
18% 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
$5,042Highest
62% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$3,141Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.9%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Freeport 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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
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 — —
School district RSU 05 — RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Freeport High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— —
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.