Compare towns
Freeport vs Bowdoin vs Lyman
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%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).
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 | Bowdoin | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
3,188Lowest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Lyman 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% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Bowdoin 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Lyman 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% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Lyman 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 |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
| Freeport and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
— | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
| Freeport and Lyman 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 |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Lyman 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% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Lyman 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.