Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Sunapee 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).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Sunapee | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
3,416Lowest |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% 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. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% 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. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Sunapee School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
11.9 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.