Compare towns
Benson vs Brookfield vs Ogunquit vs Dresden
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Benson | Brookfield | Ogunquit | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,486Highest |
1,379 |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
59±2.8 52% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dresden 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Benson 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% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Brookfield 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% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest 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 |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Brookfield 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. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
— | $1,066±$109 25% below U.S. |
| Benson and Dresden 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. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Dresden 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Brookfield 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 | — | — |
| 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.