Compare towns

Bar Harbor vs Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Putney

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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.

MeasureBar HarborFreeportOgunquitPutney
People
Population
5,244
8,802Highest
1,379Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.9
26% above U.S.
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
11.9%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.1%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,180±$26kLowest
4% below U.S.
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
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
62% above U.S.
$508,400±$76k
53% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,106±$351
22% below U.S.
$1,439±$123Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Freeport and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,279Lowest
37% above U.S.
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.6%±17.6
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #2 of 133 in ME #4 of 133 in ME — #32 of 70 in VT
School district Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD RSU 05 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Mt Desert Island High School Freeport High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.2Lowest
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.