Compare towns
Freeport vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Freeport | Strafford | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
4,306Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above 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±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Freeport 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Strafford 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.