Compare towns

Mapleton vs Bar Harbor vs Chapman

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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.

MeasureMapletonBar HarborChapman
People
Population
1,884
5,244Highest
388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
49.2±5.9Highest
10% above ME
45.7±11.4
about the ME average
Bar Harbor and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
11.9%±3.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
27.6%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
25.1%±5
ME: 22.4%
27.6%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Chapman and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
68.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
22.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
10.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$77,180±$26kLowest
3% above ME
$93,125±$17kHighest
25% above ME
Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$538,400±$94kHighest
82% above ME
$185,700±$22kLowest
37% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,106±$351Highest
about the ME average
—
Bar Harbor and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$4,279Highest
41% above ME
$1,850
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
41.6%±17.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Bar Harbor and Mapleton 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%
10.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
74.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
13% above ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
23 min
6% below ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
21.9%±8.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Bar Harbor and Mapleton 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 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD —
High school 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.