What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).

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	Cumberland
People
Population	5,244Lowest	8,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+17.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME	41.9±4Lowest 6% below ME
	Bar Harbor and Cumberland 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%	25.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.1%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bar Harbor and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	72.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME	$173,894±$20kHighest 133% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$538,400±$94kLowest 82% above ME	$616,800±$42kHighest 108% above ME
	Cumberland 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	$2,143±$759Highest 88% above ME
	Cumberland and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,279Lowest 41% above ME	$7,116Highest 134% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	47.1%±31.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cumberland 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 ME: 10.7%	3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 20% below ME	24 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	25.3%±7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cumberland 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	#2 of 133 in ME	#25 of 133 in ME
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	RSU 51/MSAD 51
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	Greely High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.