What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the most kids (14.1% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Mount Desert	Jackson
People
Population	1,671Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.9±8.2Lowest 41% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
	Jackson 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mount Desert and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mount Desert and Jackson 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.	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±31.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mount Desert and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.	19 minHighest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mount Desert Public Schools	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.