Compare towns
Topsham vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
15,080Highest |
8,802Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Topsham 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Oyster River High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.