Compare towns
Manchester vs Ogunquit vs Appleton vs Mount Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Mount Vernon has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Manchester | Ogunquit | Appleton | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,424Highest |
1,379 |
1,360Lowest |
1,716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.1±6.2 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mount Vernon and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,031±$16k 23% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,395±$6k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,600±$40k about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$264,200±$23k 11% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $993±$116 13% below ME |
— | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$893±$168Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,486 15% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±36.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.3%±11.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 38 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| 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.