Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Hancock vs Mapleton vs Sullivan
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 most expensive homes ($538k median).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Hancock | Mapleton | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244Highest |
2,518 |
1,884 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 10% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Hancock 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 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
| Bar Harbor and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26k 3% above ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 82% above ME |
$276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351 about the ME average |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
| Hancock and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Highest 41% above ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Hancock 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bar Harbor and Sullivan 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 | #117 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
— | — | 10.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.