Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Sidney vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Center Harbor has the shortest commute (25 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 | Meredith | Ogunquit | Sidney | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,379 |
4,790 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8 55% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
— |
| Sidney and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.