Compare towns

Islesboro vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).
Mount Desert has the most renters (15.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureIslesboroMount DesertOgunquitWayne
People
Population
636Lowest
1,671Highest
1,379
1,101
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
ME: +2.6%
+4.5%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
57±8.4
27% above ME
54.9±8.2Lowest
23% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
55.6±5.3
24% above ME
Ogunquit and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.2%±6.9
ME: 18.1%
14.1%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
40.6%±10.1
ME: 22.4%
29.1%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%
ME: 36.2%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,438±$44kLowest
18% above ME
$92,813±$9k
24% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$93,194±$26k
25% above ME
Ogunquit and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,800±$140kLowest
about the ME average
$522,100±$66k
76% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$938±$252Lowest
18% below ME
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
—
$983±$554
14% below ME
Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,300
42% above ME
$3,512
16% above ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$3,289Lowest
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±85.4
ME: 48.4%
33.9%±31.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1
ME: 48.4%
Mount Desert and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.4%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.8%
ME: 74.3%
84.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
3 yrs older than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
8 minLowest
69% below ME
18 min
27% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
30 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
20.3%±8.8
ME: 15.9%
19.1%±9.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mount Desert Public Schools — RSU 38
High school in town — None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.