Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Ogunquit vs Wiscasset vs Wayne

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%).
Wiscasset has the youngest population (median age 48.8).

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 DesertOgunquitWiscassetWayne
People
Population
1,671
1,379
3,874Highest
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+0.3%
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.9±8.2
23% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
48.8±6.3Lowest
9% above ME
55.6±5.3
24% above ME
Ogunquit and Wayne 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%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
13.8%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Mount Desert and Wiscasset 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%
28%±6.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%
ME: 36.2%
36.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne 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
$71,118±$37kLowest
5% below ME
$93,194±$26k
25% above ME
Ogunquit and Wayne 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
$325,200±$26kLowest
10% above ME
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89
18% above ME
—
$1,518±$485Highest
33% above ME
$983±$554Lowest
14% below ME
Wiscasset 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
$3,550
17% above ME
$3,289Lowest
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
23.6%±15.4
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1
ME: 48.4%
Mount Desert and Wayne 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%
5.7%
ME: 10.7%
7.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
27% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
30 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
19.1%±9.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
21.4%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Wayne 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 — — #108 of 133 in ME —
School district Mount Desert Public Schools — Wiscasset Public Schools RSU 38
High school in town None in town — Wiscasset Middle/High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.