Compare towns
Freeport vs Saco vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
20,819Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Freeport and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Saco 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 |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden 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±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Freeport and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.