Compare towns
Naples vs Ogunquit vs Palermo vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k median).
Bethel has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Naples | Ogunquit | Palermo | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,985Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,473 |
2,617 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13k 5% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48k 15% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME |
$344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
— | $1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Naples and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784 8% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | — | — | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | — | RSU 12 | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | — | None in town | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.