Compare towns
Freedom vs Jefferson vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Marshfield has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | Freedom | Jefferson | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 670 |
2,647Highest |
499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
40.9±7.8Highest 9% below ME |
| Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
28.5%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Marshfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Freedom and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$62,500±$5kLowest 16% below ME |
| Jefferson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$191,900±$42k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,328Lowest 23% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,342 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
11%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Marshfield and Jefferson 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 | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Jefferson Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.