Compare towns
Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Carmel vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Ogunquit | Carmel | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,379 |
2,941Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Carmel and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,662 12% below ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #77 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.