Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Lee 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).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Mount Desert has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
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.
| Measure | Bar Harbor | Lee | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244Highest |
4,576 |
1,671Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Lee and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,341±$89Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279 37% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bar Harbor and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Bar Harbor 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Oyster River Coop 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet |
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.