What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

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

Measure	Mount Desert	Rye
People
Population	1,671Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.9±8.2Lowest 41% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
	Rye 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%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rye and Mount Desert 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%	61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mount Desert and Rye 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.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye 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.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye 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%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Mount Desert Public Schools	Rye 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.