Compare towns
Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Manchester vs Cushing
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%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($300k 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.
| Measure | Newcastle | Ogunquit | Manchester | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,379Lowest |
2,424Highest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Manchester and Newcastle 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% |
22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
47.5% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,031±$16k 23% above ME |
$83,500±$19kLowest 12% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Manchester 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 |
$299,600±$40kLowest about the ME average |
$409,800±$44k 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81 20% above ME |
— | $993±$116Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Newcastle 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 |
$3,486Lowest 15% above ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cushing and Manchester 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 38 | RSU 13 |
| 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.