What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Epping	Bar Harbor
People
Population	7,430Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.	49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Epping and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bar Harbor and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bar Harbor and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Epping and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S.	$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Epping and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	Epping School District	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	Epping High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.