Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Sutton vs Trenton
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Trenton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Sutton | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
9,452Highest |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.5±7.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Trenton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Trenton and Bar Harbor 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 4% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$60,455±$13kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$357,400±$36kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,102±$241Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,310Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Trenton and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Sutton | Trenton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.