Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Unity 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 most people working from home (21.9%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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 | Unity | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.5±7.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Unity and Bar Harbor 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% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Trenton and Unity 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Trenton 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$60,455±$13kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$357,400±$36k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,102±$241Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,310Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Trenton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bar Harbor and Trenton 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 | Unity School District | Trenton 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 | 4 photos → | 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.