What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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	Milton	Mount Desert
People
Population	4,538Highest	1,671Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S.	54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S.
	Mount Desert and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Milton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mount Desert and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S.	$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Milton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.	$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Milton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 82% above U.S.	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mount Desert and Milton 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	#116 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Milton School District	Mount Desert Public Schools
High school in town	Nute High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.