Compare towns
Sanford vs Ogunquit vs Augusta vs Shapleigh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Shapleigh has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Sanford | Ogunquit | Augusta | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,247Highest |
1,379Lowest |
19,077 |
2,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +125.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±2.8Lowest 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
46.9±10 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Shapleigh and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±0.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,524±$7k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$88,140±$9k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,200±$10k 6% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$356,000±$21k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,152±$72 about the ME average |
— | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,349±$133Highest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,708 22% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,603 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±7.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 133 in ME | — | #119 of 133 in ME | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Sanford Public Schools | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | Sanford High School | — | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.7Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.