Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Penobscot vs Camden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the youngest population (median age 48.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Camden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Penobscot | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
1,379 |
1,154Lowest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
52.2±6.5 17% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
62.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
| 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 71% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average |
$520,600±$70k 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
— | $1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
$1,269±$354 11% above ME |
| Freeport and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.