Compare towns

Freeport vs Kennebunk vs South Berwick

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%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.

MeasureFreeportKennebunkSouth Berwick
People
Population
8,802
11,820Highest
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+6.8%
ME: +2.6%
+3.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.8±4.3
9% above ME
54.6±3.3Highest
22% above ME
39±2.5Lowest
13% 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%±3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
26.7%±6Highest
ME: 18.1%
South Berwick 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%
15.8%±3Lowest
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%
41.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
Freeport and South Berwick 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±$8kHighest
44% above ME
$99,572±$13kLowest
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
$428,300±$26kLowest
44% 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
$1,726±$83Highest
52% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042Highest
66% above ME
$4,999
65% above ME
$4,956Lowest
63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.5%±24.5
ME: 48.4%
Freeport and South Berwick 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%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
80.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
78.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
4% below ME
27 minHighest
9% above ME
27 minHighest
9% above ME
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
ME: 15.9%
32.5%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
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 #58 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 RSU 21 RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Freeport High School Kennebunk High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
11.6Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.