Compare towns

Freeport vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.

MeasureFreeportWolfeboroHarpswell
People
Population
8,802Highest
6,571
5,046Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3Lowest
25% above U.S.
57±1.8
47% above U.S.
62±1.5Highest
59% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
8.8%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Wolfeboro 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%
34.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
38.6%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Harpswell and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Freeport and Wolfeboro 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.
$94,375±$22kLowest
17% above 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±$76kLowest
53% above U.S.
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
$609,700±$60kHighest
83% above U.S.
Harpswell and Wolfeboro 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
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% 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.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
$3,141Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.9%±5.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.7%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro 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 #46 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 05 Governor Wentworth Regional School District RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Freeport High School Kingswood Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.