Compare towns
Harpswell vs Rome 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 oldest population (median age 62).
Rome has the most affordable homes ($329k median).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 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 | Rome | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
1,215Lowest |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% ME: 36.2% |
39.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Rome 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 |
$77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above 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 |
$329,300±$36kLowest 11% 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 |
$1,150±$56Lowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Rome 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% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest 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 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.