Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Northport vs Ogunquit vs Vinalhaven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Northport has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).

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 DesertNorthportOgunquitVinalhaven
People
Population
1,671Highest
1,621
1,379
1,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%
ME: +2.6%
+2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+9.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.9±8.2Lowest
23% above ME
56.6±3.8
26% above ME
62.8±4.8
40% above ME
65.1±3.9Highest
45% above ME
Vinalhaven and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.9%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
11.2%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
Mount Desert and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
39.2%±3.7
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1
ME: 22.4%
50.4%±6.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
Vinalhaven and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
52.4%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%
ME: 36.2%
45.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,813±$9k
24% above ME
$73,523±$8k
about the ME average
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$72,963±$11kLowest
about the ME average
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66k
76% above ME
$343,400±$36kLowest
16% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$428,400±$44k
44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
$1,088±$299
4% below ME
—
$1,017±$924Lowest
11% below ME
Mount Desert and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512
16% above ME
$2,721Lowest
10% below ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$3,598
19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
56.8%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.6%±41.5
ME: 48.4%
Northport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.9%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.6%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
86.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
8 yrs older than ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
27% below ME
25 min
about the ME average
26 minHighest
7% above ME
19 min
24% below ME
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
ME: 15.9%
15.2%±5.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
19.3%±5.8
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district Mount Desert Public Schools Northport Public Schools — —
High school in town None in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.