Compare towns
Alfred vs Ogunquit vs Stratham vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Waterboro has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Alfred | Ogunquit | Stratham | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,379Lowest |
7,754 |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±3.1 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterboro and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$89,392±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$297,000±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,200±$461 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 14% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$2,772Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.2%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stratham 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.