Compare towns
Ludlow vs Ogunquit vs Starks vs Houlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Houlton has the shortest commute (10 min average).
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 | Ludlow | Ogunquit | Starks | Houlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 444Lowest |
1,379 |
556 |
6,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
45.4±2.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
18%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Ludlow and Houlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
24.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Houlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$61,058±$14kLowest 18% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$137,000±$31k 54% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111 13% below ME |
— | $1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$785±$66Lowest 31% below ME |
| Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,707 44% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
54.7%±12.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Houlton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
63.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
10 minLowest 58% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #50 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 29/MSAD 29 · Houlton-Region 2 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Houlton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 16.8 |
| 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.