Compare towns
Freeport vs Wells vs Yarmouth
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Yarmouth has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Wells | Yarmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Lowest |
11,713Highest |
9,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Wells and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Yarmouth and Freeport 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Yarmouth and Freeport 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$110,216±$14kHighest 47% above ME |
| Yarmouth 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 |
$485,300±$23kLowest 64% above ME |
$639,700±$57kHighest 116% above ME |
| Yarmouth and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,693±$191Highest 49% above ME |
| Yarmouth and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$7,120Highest 135% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51%±14.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Yarmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.7%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Yarmouth 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #5 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Yarmouth Schools |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Wells High School | Yarmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.4 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.