What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Mount Desert	Mendon
People
Population	1,671Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Mount Desert and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon 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 U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mount Desert and Mendon 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%	49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mount Desert and Mendon 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.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon 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±$66kHighest 57% above U.S.	$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,341±$89Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Mount Desert and Mendon 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.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minHighest 32% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon 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	—
High school 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.