Compare towns
Topsham vs Nelson 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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.
| Measure | Topsham | Nelson | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
648Lowest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Topsham 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nelson School District | 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.