Compare towns
Castine vs Naples vs Ogunquit vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castine has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castine | Naples | Ogunquit | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362 |
3,985Highest |
1,379 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME |
49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 9.5%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 74.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$26k 52% above ME |
$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$114k 103% above ME |
$340,100±$48kLowest 15% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$104 about the ME average |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
— | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,250 40% above ME |
$2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,667 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Castine and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 42% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #118 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Castine Public Schools | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lake Region High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.