What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mount Desert has the highest household income ($93k).

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	Mount Desert
People
Population	1,216Lowest	1,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME	54.9±8.2Lowest 23% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	14.1%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mount Desert 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%	29.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	64.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mount Desert and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average	$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME
	Mount Desert 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	$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME
	Mount Desert 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	$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME
	Mount Desert and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,598Highest 19% above ME	$3,512Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%	33.9%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and Mount Desert 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%	7.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	19.1%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Vinalhaven and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Mount Desert Public Schools
High school 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.