Compare towns
Nelson vs Ogunquit vs York
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
York has the most renters (18.5% 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 | Nelson | Ogunquit | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,379 |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| York and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S. |
| York and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,658 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Nelson 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 | — | — | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.

