Compare towns
Carmel vs Ogunquit vs Waterville vs Chelsea
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%).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Waterville | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
1,379Lowest |
17,077Highest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
42.2±3.6 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$85,471±$10k 14% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Chelsea 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 |
$184,600±$21k 38% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 12% above ME |
— | $978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
| Chelsea and Carmel 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 |
$2,755 9% below ME |
$2,313Lowest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | #105 of 133 in ME | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.