Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Arrowsic vs Camden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Arrowsic has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Camden has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Bar Harbor | Arrowsic | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244Highest |
597Lowest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above ME |
50.3±8.7 12% above ME |
52.2±6.5Highest 17% above ME |
| Camden and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Arrowsic and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±11.2 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Camden and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
64.7% ME: 36.2% |
62.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME |
$99,107±$27kHighest 33% above ME |
$82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
| Arrowsic and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94k 82% above ME |
$584,200±$150kHighest 97% above ME |
$520,600±$70kLowest 76% above ME |
| Arrowsic and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average |
$1,600±$412Highest 40% above ME |
$1,269±$354 11% above ME |
| Arrowsic and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279 41% above ME |
$3,521Lowest 16% above ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.6%±9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Bar Harbor and Camden 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 | #2 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | — | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school 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 |
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.