Compare towns
Carmel vs Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most renters (21.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
567Lowest |
1,379 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Carmel 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% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Carmel 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±$19k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 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±$37k 13% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Carmel and Waldo 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% 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 |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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.