Compare towns
Lee vs Mount Desert vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (97%).
Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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.
| Measure | Lee | Mount Desert | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
1,671Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME |
47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mount Desert and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$3,512Highest 16% above ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Desert and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | Mount Desert Public Schools | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.