Compare towns
Topsham vs Danforth vs Freeport vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Danforth | Freeport | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
452Lowest |
8,802 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Danforth and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden 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±$20k 22% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
— | $5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #4 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 05 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Freeport High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.