What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Hampton	Bar Harbor
People
Population	16,426Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Hampton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	11.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bar Harbor and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.	$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$538,400±$94kLowest 62% above U.S.
	Hampton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bar Harbor and Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.