Compare towns

Brookline vs Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Freeport has the most renters (22.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

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.

MeasureBrooklineFreeportOgunquitBow
People
Population
5,736
8,802Highest
1,379Lowest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,046±$4k
112% above U.S.
$107,326±$19kLowest
33% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
$508,400±$76k
53% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,439±$123Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #23 of 120 in NH #4 of 133 in ME — #26 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District RSU 05 — Bow School District
High school in town None in town Freeport High School — Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Lowest
—
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.