Compare towns
Freeport vs Ayer vs Camden
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 most homeowners (77.6%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Camden has the shortest commute (22 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 | Freeport | Ayer | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
8,645 |
5,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Camden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6Lowest 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Ayer 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 33% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Camden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,269±$354Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,832Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Camden 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 | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Ayer Shirley School District | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.