Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Ogunquit vs Springfield 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Springfield | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
1,379Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26k 4% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$94k 62% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
— | $963±$100Lowest 32% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 133 in ME | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.