What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).

Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Freeport
People
Population	9,706Highest	8,802Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME
	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 ME: 18.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	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 ME: 22.4%	26.7%±4.9Highest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	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 22% above ME	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME
	Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME	$1,439±$123Highest 26% 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	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME	$5,042Highest 66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	62%±18.9Highest 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%	8.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 min 4% below ME	24 min 4% below ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Freeport and Topsham 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
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	RSU 05
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.