Compare towns
Freeport vs Kennebunk vs Sheldon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
11,820Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
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. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Kennebunk 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 21 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.