Compare towns
Mount Desert vs Reading vs Northport
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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Northport has the most affordable homes ($343k 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.
| Measure | Mount Desert | Reading | Northport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,671Highest |
699Lowest |
1,621 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
56.6±3.8Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Northport 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mount Desert and Reading 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 15% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$73,523±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$343,400±$36kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,341±$89Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,088±$299Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,512 13% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,721Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Northport 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northport Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.