Compare towns
Castine vs Ogunquit vs Waldo vs Jackson
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%).
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Jackson has the most renters (21.4% rent).
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 | Waldo | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362 |
1,379Highest |
926 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 9.5%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 74.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$26k 52% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| 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 |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$104 about the ME average |
— | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±56 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Castine 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 42% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 min 20% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Castine Public Schools | — | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| High school 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.