What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the most people working from home (19.1%).

Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	Newington
People
Population	1,671Highest	939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S.	48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Mount Desert and Newington 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%	15.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newington 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%	28%±11Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mount Desert and Newington 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%	62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S.	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.
	Newington 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.	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.	$6,081Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newington 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.	23 minHighest 12% below U.S.
Work from home	19.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mount Desert and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mount Desert Public Schools	Newington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.