Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Pownal
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 most renters (22.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Wells | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$104,333±$14k 40% 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 |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$436,800±$32kLowest 47% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$981±$636Lowest 14% below ME |
| Freeport and Wells 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 |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$5,212Highest 72% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.