Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Ogunquit vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rochester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Benson | Braintree | Ogunquit | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,379 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— | $929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Benson and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.