Compare towns
Scarborough vs Ogunquit vs Eliot vs Cape Elizabeth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Cape Elizabeth has the most kids (26% 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 | Scarborough | Ogunquit | Eliot | Cape Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,146 |
9,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
47.4±3.3Lowest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
26%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
25.7%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
74.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21k 79% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$101,522±$10kLowest 36% above ME |
$145,821±$8kHighest 95% above ME |
| Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$498,900±$62kLowest 68% above ME |
$731,600±$53k 147% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178 72% above ME |
— | $1,948±$471Lowest 71% above ME |
$2,185±$275Highest 92% above ME |
| Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 97% above ME |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$7,637Highest 152% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.2%±19.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
88% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
23 min 9% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
31.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Cape Elizabeth 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Cape Elizabeth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | — | None in town | Cape Elizabeth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | — | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.