Compare towns
Freeport vs Kennebunk vs Brunswick vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Brunswick has the most renters (28.8% rent).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
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 | Brunswick | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
11,820 |
22,336Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
| Kennebunk and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Durham 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 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk 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 ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
53.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
| Freeport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
— |
| Brunswick and Freeport 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 |
$4,999 65% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
$3,781Lowest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 21 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Kennebunk High School | Brunswick High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.6 |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.