Compare towns
Carmel vs Ogunquit vs Dayton vs Etna
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Ogunquit | Dayton | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,379 |
2,313 |
1,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Etna 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
$72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Dayton 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
$183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
— | $1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
— |
| Carmel and Dayton 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
$1,745Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Etna 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | Dayton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.