Compare towns
Jay vs Oakland vs Ogunquit vs Steuben
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Oakland | Ogunquit | Steuben |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657 |
6,309Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Steuben 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% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Oakland 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 |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Oakland 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 |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$939±$74Highest 18% below ME |
— | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,029Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Jay 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | #23 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 18 | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Messalonskee High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.