Compare towns
Freeport vs South Hooksett 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%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
5,902 |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and South Hooksett 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Hooksett and Bar Harbor 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. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett 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. |
$433,200±$40kLowest 30% 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±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Freeport 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. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 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 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | #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 |
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.