Compare towns
Carmel vs Ogunquit vs Waterville vs Parsonsfield
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).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% 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 | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
1,379Lowest |
17,077Highest |
1,715 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-5.6%Lowest 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 |
44.3±5.9 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield 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% |
18%±3.6 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% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$72,045±$18k 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$272,100±$21k 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
— | $978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,185±$312 4% above ME |
| Carmel and Parsonsfield 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 |
$2,350Lowest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Parsonsfield 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% 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 |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
48 minHighest 97% 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% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | #105 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | Waterville Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Waterville Senior High School | — |
| 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.