What stands out worked out from the figures below

Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Limestone	Bar Harbor
People
Population	1,579Lowest	5,244Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average	49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%	11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.1%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bar Harbor and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bar Harbor and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME	$77,180±$26kHighest 3% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME	$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME	$1,106±$351Highest about the ME average
	Bar Harbor and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,332Lowest 56% below ME	$4,279Highest 41% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±12.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bar Harbor and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	74.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	20 minHighest 20% below ME
Work from home	14.5%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bar Harbor and Limestone 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	ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	ME Sch of Science & Mathematics	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.