Compare towns
Alfred vs Ogunquit vs Standish vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Ogunquit | Standish | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,379Lowest |
10,662Highest |
8,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Alfred 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% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Standish 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 |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432 9% below ME |
— | $983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME |
| Waterboro 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 |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$2,772Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 133 in ME | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bonny Eagle High School | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.