Compare towns
Mercer vs Ogunquit vs Starks
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 most kids (20.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718 |
1,379Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Starks 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
— | $1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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.