Compare towns
Harpswell vs Newington 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 oldest population (median age 62).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Newington | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
939Lowest |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Newington 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% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Newington 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 19% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Newington and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Freeport 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 |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Newington School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.