Compare towns
Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Hampden vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% 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 | Newcastle | Ogunquit | Hampden | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,379 |
7,896Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
— | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
| Newcastle and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256 40% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,667Lowest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.