What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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	Vinalhaven	Bar Harbor
People
Population	1,216Lowest	5,244Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME	49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above ME
Kids under 18	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	11.9%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bar Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%	25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average	$77,180±$26kHighest 3% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,400±$44kLowest 44% above ME	$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME	$1,106±$351Highest about the ME average
	Bar Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,598Lowest 19% above ME	$4,279Highest 41% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%	41.6%±17.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	20 minHighest 20% below ME
Work from home	19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bar Harbor and Vinalhaven 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 133 in ME
School district	—	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	—	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.2
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.