Compare towns
Appleton vs Belgrade vs Mount Vernon vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mount Vernon has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Appleton | Belgrade | Mount Vernon | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,351Highest |
1,716 |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
47.1±6.2Lowest 5% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
42.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$74,395±$6k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$264,200±$23k 11% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$893±$168 22% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±36.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
28.3%±11.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | 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 |
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.