Compare towns
Topsham vs Newfields vs Hanover 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).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Newfields | Hanover | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
2,023Lowest |
11,685Highest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanover 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Newfields 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. |
$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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Freeport 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newfields School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.