Population 1,096 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Southwest Harbor
Household size in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.03 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.09 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.98 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Southwest Harbor is a place of small households, averaging 1.98 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.6 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 57.0 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.3 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.6 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 53.3, Southwest Harbor is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 45.7 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Southwest Harbor, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Southwest Harbor
Renters in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.1% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.1% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.3% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +12.2 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Southwest Harbor than nationally: 46.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 62.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.1% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 57.4% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.7% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +17.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Southwest Harbor: 53.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Southwest Harbor was built around 1979, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Maine overall, where the median home dates to 1975.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $475 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $621 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $503 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $989 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$513 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Southwest Harbor costs $989 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 30.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Southwest Harbor
Bachelor's degrees in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.5% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.2% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Southwest Harbor as nationally: 34.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.3% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.7% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.9% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Southwest Harbor: 97.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Southwest Harbor
| Period | Southwest Harbor | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Southwest Harbor is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Maine as a whole (3.9%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Southwest Harbor compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Harbor | 1.98 | 53.3 | 6.8% | 46.3% | 53.7% | 1979 | $989 | 34.2% | 97.9% | 5.8% |
| Seawall | 2.41 | 43.9 | 12.7% | 30.6% | 58.2% | 1982 | $1,250 | 44.1% | 94.7% | 1.2% |
| Bass Harbor | 2.33 | 48.7 | 3.0% | 16.3% | 53.6% | 1982 | $1,465 | 42.8% | 94.2% | 2.6% |
| Bernard | 2.23 | 46.9 | 4.8% | 23.3% | 51.2% | 1984 | $1,330 | 42.4% | 95.9% | 1.6% |
| Seal Cove | 2.20 | 46.8 | 5.2% | 25.5% | 50.7% | 1984 | $1,291 | 42.3% | 96.4% | 1.5% |
| Cranberry Isles | 2.41 | 43.9 | 12.7% | 30.6% | 58.2% | 1982 | $1,250 | 44.1% | 94.7% | 1.2% |
| Mount Desert | 2.13 | 49.6 | 2.8% | 11.4% | 53.5% | 1979 | $1,256 | 59.9% | 100.0% | 2.1% |
| Islesford | 2.41 | 43.9 | 12.7% | 30.6% | 58.2% | 1982 | $1,250 | 44.1% | 94.7% | 1.2% |
| Seal Harbor | 1.95 | 56.4 | 2.6% | 29.7% | 65.1% | 1958 | $1,328 | 69.3% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Frenchboro | 2.30 | 47.7 | 4.5% | 17.9% | 41.4% | 1983 | $1,195 | 35.4% | 95.1% | 5.6% |
| Indian Point | 2.16 | 48.2 | 2.9% | 9.2% | 51.9% | 1982 | $1,251 | 58.3% | 100.0% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Viola, KS · Doe Run, MO · Donahue, IA · Eastford, CT · St. Marys City, MD · Sterling City, TX · Turkey Creek, LA · Valley View, PA · Vernon Center, NY · Aroma Park, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Southwest Harbor. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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