Compare towns
Benson vs Bridgewater vs Ogunquit vs Shoreham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shoreham has the most kids (18% 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 | Benson | Bridgewater | Ogunquit | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
980 |
1,379Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Lowest 33% 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 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Bridgewater 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 |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$93,654±$23k 16% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Shoreham 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. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
— | $1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson 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. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs 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. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.