What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k 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	Topsham	Bar Harbor
People
Population	9,706Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average	49.2±5.9Highest 10% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.1%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bar Harbor and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Lowest ME: 36.2%	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME
	Topsham and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME	$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME	$1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average
	Topsham and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME	$4,279Highest 41% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bar Harbor and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	20 minLowest 20% below ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bar Harbor and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.