Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Freeport vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Bar Harbor | Freeport | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244Lowest |
8,802Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Freeport 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Bar Harbor 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 05 | Rye School District |
| 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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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.