Compare towns

Bremen vs Mount Desert vs Arrowsic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bremen has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Arrowsic has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBremenMount DesertArrowsic
People
Population
917
1,671Highest
597Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+4.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
52.1±8.2
16% above ME
54.9±8.2Highest
23% above ME
50.3±8.7Lowest
12% above ME
Mount Desert and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±5.6
ME: 18.1%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.4%±7.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
Arrowsic and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.1%±9.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.1%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
31.8%±11.2
ME: 22.4%
Bremen and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
64.4%
ME: 36.2%
64.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±4.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.2%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
Mount Desert and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,000±$21kHighest
34% above ME
$92,813±$9kLowest
24% above ME
$99,107±$27k
33% above ME
Bremen and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,300±$28kLowest
43% above ME
$522,100±$66k
76% above ME
$584,200±$150kHighest
97% above ME
Arrowsic and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,341±$89Lowest
18% above ME
$1,600±$412Highest
40% above ME
Arrowsic and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,829Lowest
7% below ME
$3,512
16% above ME
$3,521Highest
16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
33.9%±31.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Mount Desert and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.4%
ME: 10.7%
7.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
16.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
ME: 74.3%
84.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
95.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
4 yrs newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
13% below ME
18 minLowest
27% below ME
29 minHighest
20% above ME
Work from home
22.7%±6.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
19.1%±9.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.6%±9
ME: 15.9%
Bremen and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mount Desert Public Schools —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.