Compare towns
Freeport vs Canton 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 the most affordable homes ($508k median).
Canton has the highest household income ($143k).
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 | Canton | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
24,748Highest |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton 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% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Canton 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Canton High | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
13.1Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.