Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Freeport vs Sunapee
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%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
8,802Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Freeport 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. |
$5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% 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% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Bar Harbor 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 05 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Freeport High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.