Compare towns
Deer Isle vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deer Isle has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Deer Isle | Ogunquit | Saco | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,470 |
1,379Lowest |
20,819Highest |
2,617 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±5.6 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,284±$15k 17% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $308,300±$42kLowest 4% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
— | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.4%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 17% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±9.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel 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 | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD | — | Saco Public Schools | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch | — | None in town | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0Lowest |
— | — | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.