Compare towns
Freeport vs Scarborough vs Kennebunkport
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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k 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.
| Measure | Freeport | Scarborough | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
23,215Highest |
3,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
48.8±2.7Lowest 9% above ME |
59.1±5Highest 32% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Scarborough 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% |
24.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunkport and Freeport 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% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
52.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Scarborough 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 |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$102,747±$30kLowest 37% above ME |
| Scarborough 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±$76kLowest 71% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,429±$296Lowest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$3,914Lowest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Scarborough 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% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport and Scarborough 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.