Compare towns
Jay vs Ogunquit vs Peru vs Chesterville
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Jay | Ogunquit | Peru | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,501 |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Peru 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
— | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Jay and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | RSU 56 | — |
| 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.