Compare towns
Alna vs Ogunquit vs Waldo vs Newcastle
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Waldo has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Waldo | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818Lowest |
1,379 |
926 |
1,913Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
49.4±7 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$89,868±$33k 20% 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
— | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
| Newcastle and Waldo 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,256 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo 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% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 min 20% below ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| 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.