Compare towns
Augusta vs Carmel vs Ogunquit vs Hallowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 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 | Augusta | Carmel | Ogunquit | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,941 |
1,379Lowest |
2,592 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
— | $890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,662 12% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,867 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.