Compare towns
Freeport vs Kennebunk vs Rye
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 youngest population (median age 48.8).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | Freeport | Kennebunk | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
6,221 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Kennebunk 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. |
$95,169±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,771Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Rye School District |
| 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.