What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Newington	Mount Desert
People
Population	939Lowest	1,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S.	54.9±8.2Highest 41% 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	15.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+	28%±11Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.1%±4.9Highest 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+	62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.	$92,813±$9kLowest 15% 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	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.	$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,081Highest 95% above U.S.	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±31.5Lowest 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	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 12% below U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±9.8Highest 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	Newington School District	Mount Desert Public Schools
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.