What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most people working from home (21.2%).

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freeport	Newington
People
Population	8,802Highest	939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Freeport and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Newington 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.	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.
	Newington 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±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.
	Newington and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,081Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newington 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%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1984 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#4 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 05	Newington School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.