What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most affordable homes ($508k median).

Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).

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	Bedford
People
Population	8,802Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Freeport and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford 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%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford 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	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 05	Bedford School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.