Compare towns
Freeport vs Hampton Beach 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
2,605 |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Freeport 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Pownal 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 33% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,333±$14k 29% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Pownal 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Freeport 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 |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Lowest 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Pownal 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.