Compare towns
Pownal vs Harpswell vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Pownal | Harpswell | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,696Lowest |
5,046 |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Pownal and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,333±$14k 40% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Freeport and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,800±$32kLowest 47% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% 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 | $981±$636Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above 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 | $5,212Highest 72% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$5,042 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 23.9%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Pownal 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 |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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.