Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Exeter vs Sidney vs Mount Desert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Sidney | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379 |
1,093Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
$92,813±$9k 24% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$522,100±$66k 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,512 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mount Desert and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 18 | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| 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.