Compare towns
Etna vs Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Jackson has the most renters (21.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Etna | Jackson | Ogunquit | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,252 |
567Lowest |
1,379Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,745 43% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.