Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Freeport

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).

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.

MeasureKennebunkOgunquitNeedhamFreeport
People
Population
6,221
1,379Lowest
32,459Highest
8,802
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.3±7.2
40% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,169±$21kLowest
18% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,800±$17kLowest
36% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$508,400±$76k
53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,466±$261
4% above U.S.
—
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,439±$123Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,771
53% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,042
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
36.6%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 #9 of 133 in ME — #19 of 282 in MA #4 of 133 in ME
School district — — Needham RSU 05
High school in town — — Needham High Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.9Lowest
12.2Highest
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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.