Compare towns

Freeport vs Danvers 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%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

MeasureFreeportDanversBar Harbor
People
Population
8,802
28,098Highest
5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
45.3±3Lowest
16% 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%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
11.9%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Danvers 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%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.8%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$77,180±$26kLowest
4% below U.S.
Danvers 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±$76kLowest
53% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$538,400±$94k
62% above U.S.
Danvers 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±$123
about the U.S. average
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,106±$351Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,279Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
41.6%±17.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Danvers 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 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
8% above U.S.
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
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 #91 of 282 in MA #2 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town Freeport High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
12.8Highest
8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.