Compare towns
Eliot vs Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Freeport has the most renters (22.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Freeport | Ogunquit | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
8,802Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pownal and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 36% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$104,333±$14k 40% 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 | $498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$436,800±$32kLowest 47% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
— | $981±$636Lowest 14% below ME |
| Eliot and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$5,042 66% above ME |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$5,212Highest 72% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 05 | — | RSU 05 |
| 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 | 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.