Compare towns
Freeport vs Lancaster vs York
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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k 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 | Lancaster | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
8,606Lowest |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
| York 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| York 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| York 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% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,490±$336 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and York 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Nashoba | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.