Compare towns
Freeport vs Benton vs Bar Harbor
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%).
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
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 | Benton | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
2,770Lowest |
5,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton 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 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 59.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$77,180±$26k 3% above ME |
| Freeport and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME |
| Bar Harbor and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$4,279 41% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
10.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
20 min 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±8.9Highest 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 | #85 of 133 in ME | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.