What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Bar Harbor	Exeter
People
Population	5,244Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Exeter 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%	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bar Harbor and Exeter 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%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Bar Harbor 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.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bar Harbor and Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	59 photos →

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.