Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Hampton vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

MeasureMount DesertHamptonWayne
People
Population
1,671
10,101Highest
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2
41% above U.S.
51.2±1.7Lowest
32% above U.S.
55.6±5.3Highest
43% above U.S.
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wayne 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
$92,813±$9kLowest
15% above U.S.
$97,163±$4kHighest
20% above U.S.
$93,194±$26k
15% above U.S.
Hampton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66k
57% above U.S.
$545,300±$63kHighest
64% above U.S.
$362,800±$29kLowest
9% above U.S.
Hampton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89
5% below U.S.
$1,654±$93Highest
17% above U.S.
$983±$554Lowest
30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512
13% above U.S.
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
19.1%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wayne and Hampton 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 — #31 of 120 in NH —
School district Mount Desert Public Schools — RSU 38
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.