Compare towns
Alstead vs Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Eliot has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Alstead | Eliot | Ogunquit | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
7,146Highest |
1,379 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.