Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Ogunquit vs Sutton vs Cape Elizabeth
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Cape Elizabeth has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Cape Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
1,379Lowest |
9,452 |
9,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.4±3.3 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cape Elizabeth and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
74.1%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$145,821±$8k 81% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Cape Elizabeth 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. |
$523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$731,600±$53k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,185±$275Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,637Highest 145% 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% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Cape Elizabeth 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #1 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | — | Sutton | Cape Elizabeth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | — | Sutton High School | Cape Elizabeth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
10.5 |
| 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.