Compare towns
Topsham vs South Eliot vs Freeport
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 affordable homes ($361k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | South Eliot | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
4,203Lowest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
| South Eliot and Freeport 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot and Freeport 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% |
49.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Freeport and South Eliot 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 |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
| Freeport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Freeport 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | 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.