Compare towns

Newburgh vs Bar Harbor vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

MeasureNewburghBar HarborFranklin
People
Population
1,475Lowest
5,244Highest
1,628
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.8±5.7Lowest
about the ME average
49.2±5.9Highest
10% above ME
46±9.3
about the ME average
Bar Harbor and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.9%±3.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.3%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Newburgh and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
25.1%±5
ME: 22.4%
25.6%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Franklin and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%
ME: 36.2%
68.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
28.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
10.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,750±$10k
about the ME average
$77,180±$26kHighest
3% above ME
$65,455±$16kLowest
12% below ME
Bar Harbor and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$244,600±$20kLowest
18% below ME
$538,400±$94kHighest
82% above ME
$245,800±$59k
17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$950±$219
17% below ME
$1,106±$351Highest
about the ME average
$888±$306Lowest
22% below ME
Bar Harbor and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,748
9% below ME
$4,279Highest
41% above ME
$2,231Lowest
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±13.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
41.6%±17.6
ME: 48.4%
36.7%±27.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Newburgh and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%
ME: 10.7%
10.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
15.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
76.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1984Lowest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
29 min
18% above ME
Work from home
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21.9%±8.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
12.2%±5.5
ME: 15.9%
Bar Harbor and Franklin 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 133 in ME —
School district — Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD —
High school in town — Mt Desert Island High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.