Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Freeport vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Freeport | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
8,802Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 10% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
59.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% 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 |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 41% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and South Berwick 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% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 05 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Freeport High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.2 |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.