Compare towns
Alna vs Appleton vs Ogunquit vs Mercer
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 renters (17.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818 |
1,360 |
1,379Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±4.5 3% 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% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Appleton 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 |
$71,107±$2k 5% below 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 |
$238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer 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 |
$1,970Lowest 35% 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% |
18.5%±74 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% 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%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.