Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Columbia 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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Bar Harbor has the most renters (25.5% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Columbia | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
1,379 |
683Lowest |
5,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Columbia 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Columbia 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Columbia 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$77,180±$26k 4% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $792±$333Lowest 44% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$4,279 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | — | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | — | 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 | 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.