Compare towns
Alna vs Mapleton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Ogunquit | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818 |
1,884Highest |
1,379 |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% 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% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,107±$2kLowest 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176 4% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Alna 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Mercer 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| 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.