Compare towns

Mapleton vs Bar Harbor vs Wayne

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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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 HarborWayne
People
Population
1,884
5,244Highest
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
49.2±5.9
10% above ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
Wayne and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.9%±3.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Wayne 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%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Wayne 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%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
68.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
10.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
Bar Harbor and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$77,180±$26kLowest
3% above ME
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above ME
Wayne 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±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$538,400±$94kHighest
82% above ME
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,106±$351Highest
about the ME average
$983±$554
14% below ME
Bar Harbor and Wayne 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
$3,289
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
41.6%±17.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1
ME: 48.4%
Bar Harbor and Wayne 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%
7.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
74.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
30 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21.9%±8.9
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Wayne 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 — #2 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD RSU 38
High school in town None in town Mt Desert Island High School None in town
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.