What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

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	Freeport	Augusta
People
Population	8,802Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME
	Freeport and Augusta 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%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Freeport and Augusta 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%	21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Freeport and Augusta 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%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Freeport and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Highest 66% above ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Freeport and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Freeport and Augusta 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	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 05	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Freeport High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.