What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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	Gorham
People
Population	5,244Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME
Kids under 18	11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.1%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Gorham and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME	$460,900±$26kLowest 55% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Gorham 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	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME
	Gorham 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	$4,825Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4%	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bar Harbor and Gorham 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%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 20% below ME	27 minHighest 10% above ME
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bar Harbor and Gorham 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	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	12.9Highest
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.