What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Sutton	Bar Harbor
People
Population	9,452Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bar Harbor and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S.	$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Bar Harbor and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Sutton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Bar Harbor 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	#105 of 282 in MA	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	Sutton	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	Sutton High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	8.2Lowest
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.