Compare towns
Mount Vernon vs Ogunquit vs Appleton vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Vernon has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 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 | Mount Vernon | Ogunquit | Appleton | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,716 |
1,379 |
1,360Lowest |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±6.2Lowest 5% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,395±$6k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $264,200±$23k 11% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$168 22% below ME |
— | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±36.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 28.3%±11.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Vernon 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 | — | — | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.