Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Bar Harbor | Eliot | Ogunquit | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 10% above ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
59.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94k 82% above ME |
$498,900±$62kLowest 68% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
— | $1,439±$123 26% above ME |
| Eliot and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 41% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
23 min 9% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town | — | Freeport High School |
| 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.