Compare towns
Freeport vs Appleton vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
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 | Freeport | Appleton | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
1,360Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Appleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 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+ | 26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,952±$6k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% 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 | $5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Appleton Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.