Compare towns
Brooks vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Brooks | Ogunquit | Saco | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,379 |
20,819Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Saco and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | Saco Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.