Compare towns
Topsham vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Freeport has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Pelham | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
14,449Highest |
8,802Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% 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% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Freeport 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Freeport 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Pelham School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Pelham High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.