What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	8,802Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Freeport and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Freeport 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%	25.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Stowe 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.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Freeport and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
	Stowe and Freeport 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	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
	Stowe 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.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe and Freeport 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	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.3Lowest
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.