Compare towns
Topsham vs Lisbon Falls vs Freeport vs South Berwick
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 most homeowners (78.9%).
Lisbon Falls has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Lisbon Falls | Freeport | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
4,267Lowest |
8,802 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
41.1±4.4 8% below ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below 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%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
24.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 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±$10k 22% above ME |
$72,344±$9kLowest 3% below ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Freeport and South Berwick 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 |
$245,700±$25kLowest 17% below ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Freeport and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$971±$450Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$2,947Lowest about the ME average |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
27.9%±18Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 05 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Freeport High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.