Compare towns
Freeport vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
44,795Highest |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Salem 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. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Salem 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bar Harbor and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Salem | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Salem High | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8 |
8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.