What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).

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	Hampden
People
Population	8,802Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden 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 ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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±$19kLowest 44% above ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
	Hampden 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 71% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME
	Freeport and Hampden 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	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 05	RSU 22
High school in town	Freeport High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.