Compare towns
Hanover vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Bethel has the youngest population (median age 50.2).
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 | Hanover | Mount Desert | Ogunquit | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 276Lowest |
1,671 |
1,379 |
2,617Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.3±10.3 19% above ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±9.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±12.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest 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+ | 44.7% ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hanover and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,417±$52kLowest 26% below ME |
$92,813±$9k 24% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$58,929±$23k 21% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,500±$36kLowest 13% above ME |
$522,100±$66k 76% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
— | $864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,492Lowest 18% below ME |
$3,512 16% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Mount Desert and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±19.2 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Mount Desert Public Schools | — | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.