What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).

Freeport has the most kids (19.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harpswell	Freeport
People
Population	5,046Lowest	8,802Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	62±1.5Highest 38% above ME	48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME
Kids under 18	8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	26.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above 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	$508,400±$76kLowest 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±$53Lowest 18% above 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	$5,042Highest 66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 20% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	20.7%±6.2Lowest 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	—	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.