Compare towns
Harpswell vs Freeport vs Boothbay
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 most expensive homes ($610k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | Freeport | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
8,802Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay 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 |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below 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±$76k 71% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Boothbay 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% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | 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.