Compare towns
Carmel vs Hallowell vs Ogunquit vs Parsonsfield
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 most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% 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 | Carmel | Hallowell | Ogunquit | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
2,592 |
1,379Lowest |
1,715 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18%±3.6 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+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest 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 | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$72,045±$18k 4% 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 | $256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$272,100±$21k 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
— | $1,185±$312 4% above ME |
| Carmel and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 12% below ME |
$3,867 27% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,350Lowest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Parsonsfield and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 02 | — | — |
| 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.