Compare towns
Freeport vs South Berwick vs Ogunquit vs Pownal
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
South Berwick has the youngest population (median age 39).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pownal has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | South Berwick | Ogunquit | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
7,670 |
1,379Lowest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.2±8.4 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Pownal 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and South Berwick 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 |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$104,333±$14k 40% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$76k 71% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$436,800±$32k 47% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
— | $981±$636Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$5,212Highest 72% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Marshwood High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.