Compare towns
Camden vs Douglas vs Bar Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Camden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Camden | Douglas | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,242Lowest |
9,207Highest |
5,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
| Camden and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,344±$15k about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,600±$70k 56% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,269±$354 10% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,832 87% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bar Harbor and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bar Harbor and Camden 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 | #11 of 133 in ME | #177 of 282 in MA | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Douglas | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
8.2Highest |
| 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.