Bar Harbor, ME vs Kennebunk, ME

Bar Harbor is moderately more affordable than Kennebunk, with a 6.1% lower cost of living index. Bar Harbor scores 108 compared to 115 for Kennebunk, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kennebunk can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bar Harbor is $1,084/month compared to $1,411/month in Kennebunk — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bar Harbor has cheaper rent, Kennebunk actually has lower median home values ($429,600 vs $479,600).

Median household income in Bar Harbor is $72,750 compared to $93,167 in Kennebunk (-21.9%). While Kennebunk is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bar Harbor spend roughly 17.9% of their income on rent, less than the 18.2% in Kennebunk.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45°F vs 47.7°F). Bar Harbor receives more rainfall at 41.7" per year compared to 41.2" in Kennebunk.