Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk vs Trenton
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Trenton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Kennebunk | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
1,379Lowest |
11,820Highest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
43.5±7.7Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Trenton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
42.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Bar Harbor and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26k 3% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$60,455±$13kLowest 19% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94k 82% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$357,400±$36kLowest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351 about the ME average |
— | $1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$1,102±$241Lowest 3% below ME |
| Kennebunk 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 41% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,310Lowest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±20.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Trenton 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | — | RSU 21 | Trenton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.