Compare towns
Carthage vs Ogunquit vs Dixfield vs Etna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dixfield has the most renters (14.5% rent).
Etna has the most kids (20% 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 | Carthage | Ogunquit | Dixfield | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,379 |
2,300Highest |
1,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±10.9 4% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Etna and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
13.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,107±$18k 6% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$70,613±$9kLowest 6% below ME |
$72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$183,000±$49k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $811±$262Highest 29% below ME |
— | $658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
— |
| Carthage and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,239Lowest 59% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
$1,745 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 56 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Dirigo High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.