What stands out worked out from the figures below

Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).

Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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	Islesboro	Vinalhaven
People
Population	636Lowest	1,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57±8.4Lowest 27% above ME	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1%	11.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	40.6%±10.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Vinalhaven and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Vinalhaven and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,438±$44kHighest 18% above ME	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average
	Islesboro and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average	$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME	$1,017±$924Highest 11% below ME
	Vinalhaven and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,300Highest 42% above ME	$3,598Lowest 19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±85.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	8 minLowest 69% below ME	19 minHighest 24% below ME
Work from home	20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%	19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Islesboro and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.