Cost of Living in Bar Harbor, ME
Population 5,198 · Maine · Data vintage 2023
(100 = US avg)
Bar Harbor sits on the smaller end of the Maine city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible.
Located 185 miles northeast of Manchester, Bar Harbor is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Median home values run roughly 34% higher than Manchester's $336,000.
Cost Overview
Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.
About the Cost of Living in Bar Harbor
The median home value in Bar Harbor is $451,800 — 48% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,190/month, 9% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $74,408/year is equal to than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 5.2%, above the national average of 4.8%. Maine's top state income tax rate is 7.2% and the combined sales tax is 5.5%. The climate averages highs of 55.2°F and lows of 34.8°F, with about 74.6" of annual snowfall. Overall, Bar Harbor has a cost of living index of 125 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 25% more expensive.
Bar Harbor has limited residential data
Detailed housing and income data is limited for this location. Here are the nearest cities with full cost of living data:
🏠 Housing
HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom
💰 Estimated Monthly Budget
Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.
🛒 Food & Groceries
National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.
🚗 Transportation
Commute Mode
⚡ Utilities
📋 Taxes
💼 Income & Employment
🎓 Education
👥 Demographics
🌤 Climate
NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 28 | 31 | 40 | 53 | 66 | 75 | 80 | 79 | 71 | 58 | 46 | 35 |
| Low °F | 9 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 43 | 53 | 59 | 57 | 49 | 38 | 29 | 17 |
| Precip" | 3.17 | 2.38 | 3.22 | 3.61 | 3.34 | 3.87 | 3.16 | 3.06 | 3.76 | 4.58 | 3.84 | 3.72 |
| Snow" | 18.6 | 17.5 | 15.2 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 14.7 |
💨 Air Quality
EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data
🏫 Schools
NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Bar Harbor, ME?
Bar Harbor has a cost index of 125 (100 = national average). It is 25% above the national average.
What is average rent in Bar Harbor, ME?
The median gross rent in Bar Harbor is $1,190 per month based on 2023 Census data.
What is the average home price in Bar Harbor?
The median home value in Bar Harbor is $451,800 according to 2023 Census ACS data.
What is the median income in Bar Harbor?
The median household income in Bar Harbor is $74,408 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).
What is the sales tax in Bar Harbor, ME?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in Bar Harbor is 5.5%. The Maine state income tax top rate is 7.2%.
Is Bar Harbor, ME affordable?
Bar Harbor is above average in cost of living, with an index of 125 — about 25% higher than the national average.
What is the weather like in Bar Harbor?
Bar Harbor has average high temperatures of 55.2°F and average lows of 34.8°F. Annual precipitation is 41.7". Average annual snowfall is 74.6". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.
Bar Harbor at a Glance
- Population
- 5,198
- Median Income
- $74,408
- Home Value
- $451,800
- Median Rent
- $1,190/mo
- Unemployment
- 5.2%
- Avg High Temp
- 55.2°F
- Sales Tax
- 5.5%
Nearby Cities
Explore county-level cost of living data
Maine Rankings
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