Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Ogunquit vs Topsham vs Bremen

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

MeasureMount DesertOgunquitTopshamBremen
People
Population
1,671
1,379
9,706Highest
917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%
ME: +2.6%
+2.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.9±8.2
23% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
44.7±4Lowest
about the ME average
52.1±8.2
16% above ME
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
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.9%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.6%±5.6
ME: 18.1%
Topsham and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.4%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
34.1%±9.9
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Bremen 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%
63.5%
ME: 36.2%
50%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
54.2%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Topsham 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±$9k
24% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$91,028±$10kLowest
22% above ME
$100,000±$21k
34% above ME
Ogunquit and Bremen 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
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$360,800±$20kLowest
22% above ME
$425,300±$28k
43% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Lowest
18% above ME
—
$1,355±$642Highest
19% above ME
—
Topsham and Mount Desert 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
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$4,259
40% above ME
$2,829Lowest
7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±12.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Topsham 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%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
9.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
78.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
27% below ME
26 minHighest
7% above ME
24 min
4% below ME
22 min
13% below ME
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22.7%±6.8
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #66 of 133 in ME —
School district Mount Desert Public Schools — RSU 75/MSAD 75 —
High school in town None in town — Mt Ararat High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2
—
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.