Compare towns
Freeport vs Dedham vs Pownal
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
25,237Highest |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Pownal 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Pownal 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% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Freeport 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Freeport 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Dedham | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.