Compare towns
Dorset vs Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Eliot has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
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 | Dorset | Eliot | Ogunquit | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,146Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dorset 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.