Compare towns
Carmel vs Ogunquit vs Vinalhaven vs Etna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Vinalhaven has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Vinalhaven | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,379 |
1,216Lowest |
1,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
62.8±4.8 40% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Etna 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% |
43.6%±10.1 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Vinalhaven 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 |
$72,963±$11k about the ME average |
$72,379±$16kLowest 3% 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,400±$44k 44% above ME |
$183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
— | $1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
— |
| Carmel and Vinalhaven 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 |
$3,598 19% 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% |
53.6%±41.5 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.