What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bar Harbor	Sutton
People
Population	5,244Highest	2,239Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S.	48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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%	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bar Harbor and Sutton 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%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bar Harbor and Sutton 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.	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.
	Sutton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S.	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above 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	$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S.	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bar Harbor and Sutton 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%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bar Harbor 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	—
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.