Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Dover vs Lancaster vs Mount Desert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Dover | Lancaster | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
5,930 |
8,606Highest |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dover 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.