Compare towns
Freeport vs Kennebunk vs Scarborough vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Kennebunk | Scarborough | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
11,820 |
23,215Highest |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above 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% |
16.6%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
49%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Scarborough 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 44% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$104,333±$14kLowest 40% above ME |
| Scarborough and Kennebunk 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 |
$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME |
$436,800±$32kLowest 47% above ME |
| Scarborough 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 |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$981±$636Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$4,999Lowest 65% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$5,212 72% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Scarborough 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 21 | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Kennebunk High School | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.6 |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.