What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bar Harbor has the most kids (11.9% under 18).

Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Harpswell
People
Population	5,244Highest	5,046Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above ME	62±1.5Highest 38% above ME
Kids under 18	11.9%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1%	8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bar Harbor and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	52.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME	$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME
	Harpswell 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±$94kLowest 82% above ME	$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME
	Harpswell 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	$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME
	Harpswell 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	$3,141Lowest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4%	24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bar Harbor and Harpswell 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%	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 20% below ME	30 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%	20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bar Harbor and Harpswell 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	—
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2	—
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.