Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Salem 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Ogunquit | Salem | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Salem 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 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Salem 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Salem School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.