What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southwest Harbor has the most expensive homes ($429k median).

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Southwest Harbor	Hallowell
People
Population	1,553Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.9±9.3Lowest 9% above ME	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME
	Hallowell and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Southwest Harbor and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,205±$21kLowest 21% below ME	$68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME
	Hallowell and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$35kHighest 44% above ME	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$959±$50Highest 16% below ME	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
	Southwest Harbor and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,479Lowest 15% above ME	$3,867Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±18.4Highest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Southwest Harbor and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minHighest 36% below ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	11.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Southwest Harbor Public Schools	RSU 02
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.