Compare towns
Freeport vs Bar Harbor vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Freeport | Bar Harbor | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
5,244 |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
49.2±5.9 10% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.9%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% ME: 36.2% |
68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kLowest 71% above ME |
$538,400±$94k 82% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Harpswell and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,279 41% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% ME: 10.7% |
10.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #2 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
8.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.