What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Long Island has the most kids (18.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mount Desert	Long Island
People
Population	1,671Highest	249Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME	47.5±10.6Lowest 6% above ME
	Mount Desert and Long Island are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±11.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Long Island and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%	28.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Mount Desert and Long Island 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 ME: 36.2%	50.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mount Desert and Long Island are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME	$91,250±$29kLowest 22% above ME
	Mount Desert and Long Island are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$522,100±$66kLowest 76% above ME	$551,100±$122kHighest 86% above ME
	Long Island 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±$89Lowest 18% above ME	$2,194±$226Highest 93% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,512Highest 16% above ME	$3,357Lowest 11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	88.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Long Island 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%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 27% below ME	27 minHighest 8% above ME
Work from home	19.1%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.8%±13Highest ME: 15.9%
	Long Island 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	Long Island Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.