Compare towns
Appleton vs Bar Harbor vs Ogunquit vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Bar Harbor | Ogunquit | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
5,244Highest |
1,379 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.9%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$77,180±$26k 3% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$538,400±$94k 82% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,106±$351 about the ME average |
— | $1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,279 41% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Desert Island High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.