Compare towns
Alfred vs Augusta vs Ogunquit vs Shapleigh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shapleigh has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Alfred | Augusta | Ogunquit | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
19,077Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
46.9±10 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Shapleigh and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,140±$9k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$356,000±$21k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432 9% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
— | $1,349±$133Highest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,603 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.