Compare towns
Brooks vs Ogunquit vs Mars Hill vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Waldo has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Brooks | Ogunquit | Mars Hill | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,379 |
1,398Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
— | $488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.