Compare towns
Carmel vs Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the most renters (12.1% rent).
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k 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 | Jackson | Ogunquit | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
897Lowest |
1,379 |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 19% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Jackson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Chelsea 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 about the U.S. average |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
— | $1,373±$90 about the U.S. average |
| Jackson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Jackson School District | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.