Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Rye vs Camden
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Camden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Rye | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
5,611Highest |
5,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5 34% above U.S. |
| Rye and Camden 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Camden and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden and Rye 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% |
61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$82,344±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$520,600±$70kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,269±$354 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,832 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Rye School District | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2 |
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| 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.