Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Meredith vs Brownfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Fryeburg | Meredith | Brownfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489 |
6,758Highest |
1,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.9±6.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Meredith and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$60,889±$5k 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$287,500±$36k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,617±$554Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Brownfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,976 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.8%±43.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brownfield and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
44 minHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #103 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.