Compare towns
Freeport vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
2,992Lowest |
5,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Freeport 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% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$77,180±$26k 4% below U.S. |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$538,400±$94kHighest 62% 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 | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,279 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6 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 | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9Highest 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
8.7 |
8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.