Compare towns
Alton vs Embden vs Ogunquit vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Embden has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Monson has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Alton | Embden | Ogunquit | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 819 |
995 |
1,379Highest |
596Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
60.6±5.1 35% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.4±13.1Lowest 6% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.3%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.4%±10.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.5%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$56,017±$4kLowest 25% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$178,100±$71k 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$48 24% below ME |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,664 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±59.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.6%±17.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 34 | — | — | — |
| 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.