What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tremont has the most kids (20.2% under 18).

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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	Tremont	Mount Desert
People
Population	1,508Lowest	1,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.6±8.5Lowest about the ME average	54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME
	Mount Desert and Tremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Tremont and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mount Desert and Tremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	64.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Tremont and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,803±$8kLowest 19% above ME	$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME
	Mount Desert and Tremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$32kLowest 37% above ME	$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$406Lowest 7% above ME	$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME
	Mount Desert and Tremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,822Lowest 7% below ME	$3,512Highest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±21.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.9%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mount Desert and Tremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	20.9%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9%	19.1%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Tremont and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Tremont Public Schools	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

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.