Compare towns
New Sharon vs Ogunquit vs Palermo vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mercer has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | New Sharon | Ogunquit | Palermo | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,550Highest |
1,379 |
1,473 |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.9±8.9 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest 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 | $63,889±$21kLowest 15% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% 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 | $171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $961±$55Lowest 16% below ME |
— | $1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,889Lowest 38% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±38 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 09 | — | RSU 12 | — |
| High school 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.