Compare towns

Harpswell vs Phippsburg vs Freeport

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).
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k 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.

MeasureHarpswellPhippsburgFreeport
People
Population
5,046
2,238Lowest
8,802Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
62±1.5Highest
38% above ME
54.3±6.3
21% above ME
48.8±4.3Lowest
9% above ME
Harpswell and Phippsburg 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%
11.5%±3.1
ME: 18.1%
19.4%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
38.6%±4.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
34.4%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
26.7%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Harpswell and Phippsburg 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%
37.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
59.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
Freeport and Phippsburg 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
$107,833±$19kHighest
44% above ME
$107,326±$19k
44% above ME
Phippsburg 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±$60kHighest
106% above ME
$335,800±$47kLowest
13% above ME
$508,400±$76k
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±$53
18% above ME
$1,022±$346Lowest
10% below 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
$3,141
3% above ME
$2,034Lowest
33% below ME
$5,042Highest
66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.9%±5.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
35.5%±98.7
ME: 48.4%
62%±18.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
Freeport and Phippsburg 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%
7.5%
ME: 10.7%
8.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.8%
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
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
20% above ME
21 minLowest
13% below ME
24 min
4% below ME
Work from home
20.7%±6.2
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±4.7Lowest
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 01 - LKRSU 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

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.