Compare towns
Freeport vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
5,611 |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Rye 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%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. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Rye School District | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.