Compare towns
Topsham vs Berlin 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
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Topsham | Berlin | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
3,378Lowest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #61 of 282 in MA | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Berlin-Boylston | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 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.