What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Bar Harbor has the most homeowners (74.5%).

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	Lebanon	Bar Harbor
People
Population	14,999Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lebanon and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bar Harbor and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bar Harbor and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S.	$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Lebanon and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.	$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.	$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lebanon and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	20 minHighest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	Lebanon School District	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.