Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Needham vs Berlin 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%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Needham | Berlin | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,378 |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Berlin 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Needham 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. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Berlin-Boylston | 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 |
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.