What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).

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	Salem
People
Population	8,802Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Freeport and Salem 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%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport and Salem 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%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%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 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±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Salem 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±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
	Freeport and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above 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	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Salem 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport and Salem 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 05	Salem School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.