What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Orford
People
Population	8,802Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
	Orford and Freeport 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%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S.	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Freeport and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Freeport and Orford 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.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Orford 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport and Orford 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	—
School district	RSU 05	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	9.5Lowest
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.