Compare towns
Freeport vs Bath vs Sutton vs Bar Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bath | Sutton | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
8,815 |
9,452Highest |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9Highest 26% 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 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26k 4% below 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 | $508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$538,400±$94kHighest 62% 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 | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,106±$351 22% 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 | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,279 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #31 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Sutton | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Morse High School | Sutton High School | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.8Highest |
12.6 |
8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.