Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Wolfeboro vs Lamoine
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Lamoine has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Lamoine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,244 |
6,571Highest |
1,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.6±7.3 28% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Lamoine 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% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lamoine and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$88,542±$15k 10% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Lamoine 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$324,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$158Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Lamoine 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. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,303Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.3%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bar Harbor and Lamoine 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lamoine Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.