Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Stow vs Brownfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Stow | Brownfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489Highest |
535Lowest |
1,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 19% above ME |
57±10.5Highest 27% above ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Stow and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
37.9%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Stow 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 ME: 36.2% |
33.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stow 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±$15k 25% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
$60,889±$5kHighest 19% below ME |
| Brownfield and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30kLowest 9% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
$287,500±$36k 3% below ME |
| Stow and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85Lowest 22% below ME |
— | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928Lowest 4% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$2,976 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8 ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
44 min 80% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Stow and Fryeburg 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 | #103 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.