Compare towns
Freeport vs Upton vs Brewer 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Bar Harbor has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Upton | Brewer | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
8,189 |
9,652Highest |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Brewer 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Brewer 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$77,180±$26k 4% below U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
| Upton 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±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% 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 | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,279 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Brewer 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewer Public Schools | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Blackstone Valley | Brewer High School | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.2 |
14.0Highest |
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.