Compare towns

Bar Harbor vs Lamoine vs Mapleton

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).
Lamoine has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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 HarborLamoineMapleton
People
Population
5,244Highest
1,782Lowest
1,884
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+7.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±5.9
10% above ME
49.6±7.3Highest
11% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
Lamoine 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%
15%±3.8
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Lamoine 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%
25.5%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Lamoine 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%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
Bar Harbor and Mapleton 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
$88,542±$15k
18% above ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
Mapleton and Lamoine 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
$324,800±$43k
10% above ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,106±$351
about the ME average
$1,174±$158Highest
3% above ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
Lamoine 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
$2,303
24% below ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.6%±17.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
23.3%±16.4
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Bar Harbor and Lamoine 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%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
78.4%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
20% below ME
22 min
11% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
Work from home
21.9%±8.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
21.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Bar Harbor and Lamoine 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 Lamoine Public Schools RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town Mt Desert Island High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.2
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.