Compare towns
Freeport vs Ayer vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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.
| Measure | Freeport | Ayer | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
8,645Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Brunswick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Freeport 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Ayer Shirley School District | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.5 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.