Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Sutton vs Upton 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Trenton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
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 | Upton | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.5±7.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Trenton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
53.5% 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%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$60,455±$13kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$357,400±$36kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bar Harbor 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,102±$241 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Trenton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%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% |
86.7% 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. |
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 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Trenton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.