Compare towns
Topsham vs Stratham 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).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Stratham | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
7,754Lowest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.