What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Freeport
People
Population	22,336Highest	8,802Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME	$1,439±$123Lowest 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	$4,756Lowest 57% above ME	$5,042Highest 66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 5% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Freeport and Brunswick 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	#30 of 133 in ME	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	RSU 05
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.