Compare towns
Alfred vs Freeport vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the youngest population (median age 44.9).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).
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 | Alfred | Freeport | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
8,802Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
| Freeport and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38kLowest 15% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
| Freeport and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Lyman 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 05 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.