Compare towns
Mercer vs Ogunquit vs New Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k 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 | Mercer | Ogunquit | New Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,379 |
1,550Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.9±8.9 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$63,889±$21kLowest 15% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
— | $961±$55Lowest 16% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,889Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61%±38Highest ME: 48.4% |
| New Sharon and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.