Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Meredith vs Ogunquit
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Meredith | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
6,758Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Meredith 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% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Meredith and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.