What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newcastle	Freeport
People
Population	1,913Lowest	8,802Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.4±7Highest 10% above ME	48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME
	Newcastle and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Freeport and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Freeport and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Freeport and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,868±$33kLowest 20% above ME	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME
	Freeport and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,000±$41kLowest 34% above ME	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME
	Freeport and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,363±$81Lowest 20% above ME	$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME
	Freeport and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,256Lowest 40% above ME	$5,042Highest 66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 7 yrs newer than ME	1984 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 30% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	20.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Freeport and Newcastle 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
School district	—	RSU 05
High school in town	—	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.