What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the oldest population (median age 48.8).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	8,802Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham 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±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.
	Freeport and Durham 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	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Freeport and Durham 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Freeport 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%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 05	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.