Compare towns
Carmel vs Jackson vs Monroe vs Ogunquit
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).
Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Jackson | Monroe | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
567Lowest |
1,001 |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe 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% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe 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 |
$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above 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±$37k 13% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
— |
| Carmel and Monroe 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Monroe 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.