Compare towns

Lamoine vs Whiting vs Bar Harbor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lamoine has the highest household income ($89k).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).

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.

MeasureLamoineWhitingBar Harbor
People
Population
1,782
506Lowest
5,244Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.6±7.3
11% above ME
50±5Highest
12% above ME
49.2±5.9Lowest
10% above ME
Whiting and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±3.8
ME: 18.1%
17.8%±4.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.9%±3.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Whiting and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.3
ME: 22.4%
27.5%±6.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
25.1%±5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Whiting and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
68.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
10.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,542±$15kHighest
18% above ME
$55,263±$2kLowest
26% below ME
$77,180±$26k
3% above ME
Lamoine and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$324,800±$43k
10% above ME
$214,200±$52kLowest
28% below ME
$538,400±$94kHighest
82% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$158Highest
3% above ME
$600±$333Lowest
47% below ME
$1,106±$351
about the ME average
Lamoine and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,303
24% below ME
$1,728Lowest
43% below ME
$4,279Highest
41% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.3%±16.4Lowest
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
41.6%±17.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Bar Harbor and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%
ME: 74.3%
93.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
11% below ME
22 minHighest
10% below ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
Work from home
21.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
5.1%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21.9%±8.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
Bar Harbor and Lamoine 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 — — #2 of 133 in ME
School district Lamoine Public Schools Whiting Public Schools Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town None in town None in town Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.