Compare towns
Lyme vs Ogunquit vs Sidney vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Lyme | Ogunquit | Sidney | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,379 |
4,790Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56±10.5 44% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Lyme and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
— |
| Lyme and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,779 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lyme 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.