What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).

Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bar Harbor	Conway
People
Population	5,244Lowest	10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S.	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.
	Conway and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Conway and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Conway 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+	68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bar Harbor and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,180±$26kHighest 4% below U.S.	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S.	$314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$351Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,279Highest 37% above U.S.	$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Conway and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bar Harbor and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	Conway School District
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.