Compare towns
Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Carmel vs New Castle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Jackson | Ogunquit | Carmel | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897 |
1,379 |
2,941Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.4±4.5Lowest 19% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Carmel and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
— | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 92% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and New Castle 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 | — | — | #77 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jackson School District | — | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | New Castle School District |
| 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.