Compare towns
Freeport vs Nelson vs Ogunquit vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brunswick has the most renters (28.8% rent).
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 | Nelson | Ogunquit | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
648Lowest |
1,379 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Brunswick and Freeport 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Brunswick 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Nelson 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 | — | — | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Nelson School District | — | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | — | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | — | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.