Compare towns

Bar Harbor vs Hooksett vs Ogunquit vs Mount Desert

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bar Harbor has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Hooksett has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureBar HarborHooksettOgunquitMount Desert
People
Population
5,244
15,057Highest
1,379Lowest
1,671
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.9
26% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
54.9±8.2
41% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.9%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Hooksett and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.1%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
64.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.8%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bar Harbor and Hooksett 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
4% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$92,813±$9k
15% above U.S.
Hooksett and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$538,400±$94k
62% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$522,100±$66k
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,106±$351Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
—
$1,341±$89
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,279
37% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,512Lowest
13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.6%±17.6
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett 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%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #2 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH — —
School district Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD Hooksett School District — Mount Desert Public Schools
High school in town Mt Desert Island High School None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.2
— — —
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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.