Compare towns
Freeport vs Townsend vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Townsend | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Lowest |
9,100 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Brunswick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport and Brunswick 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | North Middlesex | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | North Middlesex Regional | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
13.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.