What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k 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	Palermo
People
Population	8,802Highest	1,473Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME	43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME
	Freeport and Palermo 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%	18.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Freeport and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%	21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Freeport and Palermo 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 ME: 36.2%	31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Freeport and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME	$89,095±$15kLowest 19% above ME
	Freeport and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME	$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME	$1,235±$1kLowest 8% above ME
	Freeport and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Highest 66% above ME	$2,506Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Palermo 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%	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	31 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	18.8%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Freeport and Palermo 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	RSU 12
High school in town	Freeport High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.