Compare towns
Alna vs Appleton vs Ogunquit vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Jefferson has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
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 | Alna | Appleton | Ogunquit | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818Lowest |
1,360 |
1,379 |
2,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667 21% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.