Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
5,611Highest |
1,671Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
| Rye 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Mount Desert 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279 37% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% 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% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Rye School District | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2 |
— | — |
| 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.