Compare towns
Brunswick vs Ellsworth vs Freeport vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Brunswick | Ellsworth | Freeport | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
8,657 |
8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
— |
| Brunswick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 57% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
24 min 4% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 05 | — |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Ellsworth High School | Freeport High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.