What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Topsham
People
Population	5,244Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average
	Bar Harbor and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.1%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bar Harbor and Topsham 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 ME: 36.2%	50%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
	Topsham 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 82% above ME	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,279Highest 41% above ME	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bar Harbor and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 20% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bar Harbor and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Mt Desert Island High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.