Compare towns
Harpswell vs Freeport vs Bristol
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%).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 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 | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
8,802Highest |
2,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
61±3.2 36% above ME |
| Harpswell and Bristol 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% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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% |
52.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
| Freeport and Bristol 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 |
$406,400±$54kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town |
| 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.