Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Millis vs Upton 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).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Millis | Upton | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
8,888Highest |
8,189 |
1,671Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton 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. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
| Millis and Mount Desert 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. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Upton 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% |
4.8% 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% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Millis High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
10.7 |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.