Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Williston 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 expensive homes ($538k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
10,144Highest |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.5±7.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Williston 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bar Harbor and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$60,455±$13kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$357,400±$36kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Williston 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,102±$241Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279 37% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,310Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Trenton and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.