Compare towns
Braintree vs Fairlee vs Ogunquit vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Braintree | Fairlee | Ogunquit | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,066 |
1,379Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4 50% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% 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 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest 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+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.