Compare towns
Freeport vs Stark 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%).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Stark | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
419Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Stark 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. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% 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. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% 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 |
— | $1,348±$53Lowest 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. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,141 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Lowest 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 | Stark School District | 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 |
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.