Compare towns
Appleton vs Bar Harbor vs Freeport vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Appleton | Bar Harbor | Freeport | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
5,244 |
8,802Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
59.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$77,180±$26k 3% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Freeport and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Bar Harbor and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,106±$351 about the ME average |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Freeport and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,279 41% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bar Harbor 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 | — | #2 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 05 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.