Compare towns
Harpswell vs Brewer vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Harpswell | Brewer | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Lowest |
9,652Highest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
| Harpswell and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.