What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

Mount Desert has the most kids (14.1% under 18).

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	Jackson	Mount Desert
People
Population	897Lowest	1,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	54.9±8.2Lowest 41% above U.S.
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mount Desert and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mount Desert and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.	$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.	$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±31.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mount Desert and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 30% below U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Jackson School District	Mount Desert Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.