Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Lee vs Ogunquit vs Freeport
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).
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lee | Ogunquit | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
4,576 |
1,379Lowest |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Lee and Ogunquit 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. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Oyster River Coop School District | — | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town | — | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.