Compare towns

Rumford vs Ogunquit vs Bethel

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bethel has the youngest population (median age 50.2).

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.

MeasureRumfordOgunquitBethel
People
Population
5,942Highest
1,379Lowest
2,617
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.3%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
50.4±3.4
13% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
50.2±6.4Lowest
12% above ME
Kids under 18
18.1%±4.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.9%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
Rumford and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.3%±6.5
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
41.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$38,403±$6kLowest
49% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$58,929±$23k
21% below ME
Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$127,700±$21kLowest
57% below ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$344,900±$37k
16% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$803±$81Lowest
29% below ME
—
$864±$43Highest
24% below ME
Bethel and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,988Lowest
35% below ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$2,835
7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.1%±11.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
21.3%±15.4
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
22.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
63.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
30 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
26 minHighest
7% above ME
26 min
5% above ME
Work from home
6.6%±5.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
27.7%±8.1
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Bethel 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 #126 of 133 in ME — #49 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 10 — RSU 44/MSAD 44
High school in town Mountain Valley High School — Telstar High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
—
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.