Compare towns
Freeport vs Meredith vs Pownal
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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
6,758 |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14k 29% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Pownal 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,212Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.