Compare towns
Carmel vs Etna vs Ogunquit vs Steuben
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Etna has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
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 | Carmel | Etna | Ogunquit | Steuben |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,252Lowest |
1,379 |
1,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2% ME: 36.2% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$183,000±$49k 38% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
— | — | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 12% below ME |
$1,745Lowest 43% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 12% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | — | RSU 24 |
| High school 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.