What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Deer Isle	Islesboro
People
Population	2,470Highest	636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±5.6Lowest 17% above ME	57±8.4Highest 27% above ME
	Islesboro and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1%	11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Deer Isle and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	47.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Deer Isle and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME	$88,438±$44kHighest 18% above ME
	Islesboro and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME	$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average
	Deer Isle and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME	$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME
	Deer Isle and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,890Lowest 38% below ME	$4,300Highest 42% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.4%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	30.8%±85.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Islesboro and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	15.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 17% below ME	8 minLowest 69% below ME
Work from home	22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9%	20.3%±8.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Deer Isle and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Deer Isle-Stonington CSD	—
High school in town	Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.