Compare towns
Harpswell vs Meredith vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Lowest |
6,758 |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Meredith 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 19% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% 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 | $609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| 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 5% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.