What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

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	Winthrop	Freeport
People
Population	6,191Lowest	8,802Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME
	Freeport and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Winthrop and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.4%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Freeport and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest ME: 36.2%	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Freeport and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME
	Freeport and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME	$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,506Lowest 15% above ME	$5,042Highest 66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±22.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Freeport and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Winthrop and Freeport 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	#12 of 133 in ME	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	Winthrop Public Schools	RSU 05
High school in town	Winthrop High School	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.