Compare towns
Carmel vs Hermon vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
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).
Hermon has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Carmel | Hermon | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
6,727 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
41.1±4.7 8% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Hermon 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±$22kLowest 10% above ME |
$96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Ogunquit and South Berwick 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 |
$333,600±$32k 12% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME |
$1,406±$202 23% above ME |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
$2,761 9% below ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and South Berwick 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996 19 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Hermon Public Schools | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.