Compare towns
Bolton vs Gray vs Ogunquit vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Bolton | Gray | Ogunquit | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
8,429 |
1,379Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Bolton 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.