Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Freeport vs Sutton
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244Lowest |
8,802 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Freeport 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Freeport 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Bar Harbor 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% |
52.8%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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$94kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Sutton 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±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 05 | Sutton |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Freeport High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.2 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.