Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Upton vs Bremen

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 the shortest commute (18 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Bremen has the most affordable homes ($425k 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.

MeasureMount DesertUptonBremen
People
Population
1,671
8,189Highest
917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2Highest
41% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% above U.S.
52.1±8.2
34% above U.S.
Mount Desert and Bremen 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Bremen 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%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.1%±9.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bremen 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%
53.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mount Desert and Upton 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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$100,000±$21k
24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66k
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$425,300±$28kLowest
28% above U.S.
Upton 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±$89Highest
5% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
—
Mount Desert and Upton 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$2,829Lowest
9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
22 min
19% below U.S.
Work from home
19.1%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Bremen 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 — #46 of 282 in MA —
School district Mount Desert Public Schools Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton —
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
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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.