Compare towns
Chesterville vs Ogunquit vs Jay vs New Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
New Sharon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Chesterville | Ogunquit | Jay | New Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,397 |
1,379Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
43.9±8.9 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$63,889±$21k 15% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$171,200±$21k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
— | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$961±$55 16% below ME |
| Chesterville and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,194 28% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$1,889Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
61%±38Highest ME: 48.4% |
| New Sharon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 73 | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | — | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.