Compare towns
Alfred vs Ogunquit vs Bowdoin vs Monmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bowdoin has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Monmouth has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.
| Measure | Alfred | Ogunquit | Bowdoin | Monmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,379Lowest |
3,188 |
4,162Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
46.2±1.5 3% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±6.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Monmouth 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
33.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Bowdoin 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$74,648±$18kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Bowdoin 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$274,100±$21kLowest 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
— | — | $1,271±$175Highest 12% above ME |
| Monmouth 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$3,139Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.6%±46.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
23%±11 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Monmouth 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME | #51 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Monmouth Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.