Compare towns

Alstead vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureAlsteadMount DesertOgunquitWayne
People
Population
1,551
1,671Highest
1,379
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3
44% above U.S.
54.9±8.2Lowest
41% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
55.6±5.3
43% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wayne and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
$92,813±$9k
15% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$93,194±$26k
15% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
$522,100±$66k
57% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$362,800±$29k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,341±$89Highest
5% below U.S.
—
$983±$554Lowest
30% below U.S.
Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322Highest
71% above U.S.
$3,512
13% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Mount Desert Public Schools — RSU 38
High school in town None in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.