Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Paxton 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%).
Paxton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Paxton | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
5,002Highest |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Lowest 7% 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% |
17.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Paxton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Paxton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Paxton and Mount Desert 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. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mount Desert and Paxton 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #219 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Wachusett | 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 |
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.