Compare towns
Castine vs Ogunquit vs Liberty vs Penobscot
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Liberty has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Liberty | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362 |
1,379Highest |
969Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.5%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 74.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.4% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$26k 52% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$104 about the ME average |
— | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,250 40% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±56 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 42% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Castine Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.