Compare towns

Mount Vernon vs Ogunquit vs Appleton vs Readfield

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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 VernonOgunquitAppletonReadfield
People
Population
1,716
1,379
1,360Lowest
2,651Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
0%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
48.1±7.6
7% above ME
Kids under 18
20.7%±5.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
18.7%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Mount Vernon and Readfield 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%
22.3%±4.5Lowest
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%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit and Appleton 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
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
Ogunquit and Readfield 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
$326,400±$20k
10% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$893±$168Lowest
22% below ME
—
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
$1,125±$844Highest
about the ME average
Readfield and Appleton 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
$3,392
12% above 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%
31.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Readfield 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%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.8%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
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
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
29% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
30 min
23% above ME
30 min
20% above 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%
24.3%±14.9
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 — — — #20 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 38 — Appleton Public Schools RSU 38
High school in town None in town — None in town Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.5
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.