Compare towns
Appleton vs East Machias vs Ogunquit vs Searsmont
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 renters (17.4% rent).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | East Machias | Ogunquit | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,223Lowest |
1,379 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.8±2.9Lowest 4% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
33.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$57,589±$10k 23% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$210,800±$23kLowest 29% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$907±$566Lowest 20% below ME |
— | $940±$311 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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 |
$1,836Lowest 40% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | East Machias Public Schools | — | RSU 71 |
| 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.