Compare towns
Sanford vs Ogunquit vs York vs Augusta
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%).
York has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
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 | York | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,247Highest |
1,379Lowest |
13,986 |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +125.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±2.8Lowest 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.5±5.2 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| York 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% |
27.9%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
53.1% ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±0.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 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±$56k 53% above ME |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| York and Ogunquit 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 |
$636,400±$30k 115% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,152±$72 about the ME average |
— | $1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| York 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,658Highest 53% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±7.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| York and Augusta 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 133 in ME | — | #13 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Sanford Public Schools | — | York Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Sanford High School | — | York High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.7 |
— | 9.6Lowest |
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.