What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	York	Bar Harbor
People
Population	13,986Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME	49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above ME
	York and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1%	11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	York and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME
	York and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME	$538,400±$94kLowest 82% above ME
	York and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME	$1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average
	York and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Highest 53% above ME	$4,279Lowest 41% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4%	41.6%±17.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	York 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 ME: 10.7%	10.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as 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	26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	York 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	York Public Schools	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	York High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Highest	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.