Compare towns
Jay vs Jefferson vs Lisbon vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Lisbon has the most renters (22.9% rent).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k 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 | Jay | Jefferson | Lisbon | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,647 |
3,612 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
— | +76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
37.4±1.5Lowest 17% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
25.4%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
27.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$86,221±$14k 15% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$237,200±$50k 20% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$805±$259 29% below ME |
— |
| Jefferson and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$3,229 6% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
59.6%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
33.9%±24.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Lisbon 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | Jefferson Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.