Compare towns
Jefferson vs Freedom vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Freedom | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
670Lowest |
837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
40.1±2.7Highest 10% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$64,861±$12kLowest 13% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
| Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,328Lowest 23% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Freedom 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | — | RSU 12 |
| 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.