Compare towns
Lovell vs Ogunquit vs Whitefield vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Penobscot has the most renters (15.8% rent).
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 | Lovell | Ogunquit | Whitefield | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,353 |
1,379 |
2,157Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.2±3.5 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$47k about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
— | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 28% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 21.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — | RSU 12 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.