What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Mount Desert has the most affordable homes ($522k 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	Rye	Mount Desert
People
Population	5,611Highest	1,671Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	54.9±8.2Lowest 41% 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	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29.1%±4.9Lowest 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+	61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±4.1Highest 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	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$92,813±$9kLowest 15% 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	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±31.5Lowest 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	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±9.8Lowest 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	Rye School District	Mount Desert Public Schools
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.