Compare towns
Freeport vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
15,080Highest |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above 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 |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Oyster River Coop School District | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Oyster River High School | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.3Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 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.