Compare towns
Freeport vs Kennebunk vs Brunswick vs Harpswell
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 affordable homes ($376k median).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Brunswick | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
11,820 |
22,336Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Kennebunk 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%±4 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9% ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$96,250±$15k 29% 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±$76k 71% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Harpswell and Freeport 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±$290 25% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,348±$53Lowest 18% 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 |
$3,141Lowest 3% 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% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 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 |
30 minHighest 20% 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% |
20.7%±6.2 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 21 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.