Compare towns
Freeport vs Williston 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 homeowners (77.6%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
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 | Williston | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,802 |
10,144Highest |
5,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Freeport 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Freeport and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 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.