What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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	Rochester
People
Population	8,802Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Freeport and Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Rochester 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 33% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Freeport and Rochester 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.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Rochester 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%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#4 of 133 in ME	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 05	Rochester School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.2Highest
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.