Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Needham vs Ogunquit

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the most affordable homes ($522k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureMount DesertNeedhamOgunquit
People
Population
1,671
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2
41% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,813±$9kLowest
15% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66kLowest
57% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Lowest
5% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512Lowest
13% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.1%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham 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 — #19 of 282 in MA —
School district Mount Desert Public Schools — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.