Compare towns

Alfred vs Gray vs Ogunquit vs Poland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gray has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Poland has the most affordable homes ($284k median).

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.

MeasureAlfredGrayOgunquitPoland
People
Population
3,125
8,429Highest
1,379Lowest
5,954
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+6.5%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+9.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.9±5.3
about the ME average
43.4±4.5Lowest
3% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
44.2±9.4
about the ME average
Kids under 18
17.7%±6.3
ME: 18.1%
19%±4
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
21.4%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Poland and Gray 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%
19.3%±4
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.8%±4.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.7%
ME: 36.2%
44.8%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
23.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
Gray and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,321±$18kLowest
10% above ME
$95,236±$8k
27% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$85,557±$23k
14% above ME
Ogunquit and Gray 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
$363,700±$20k
23% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$283,600±$44kLowest
4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,035±$432Lowest
9% below ME
$1,371±$89Highest
20% above ME
—
$1,198±$128
5% above ME
Gray and Poland 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
$3,683
21% above ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$2,774Lowest
9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
82.2%±29.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
61.6%±30.7
ME: 48.4%
Alfred and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
ME: 10.7%
3.5%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
16.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
ME: 74.3%
82.4%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
29 minHighest
16% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
Work from home
7.6%±4.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
21.9%±10.6
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Poland 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 #74 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME — #81 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 57/MSAD 57 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences — RSU 16
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School — Poland Regional H S
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Highest
—
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.