Compare towns

Braintree vs Ogunquit vs Benson 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

Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureBraintreeOgunquitBensonRochester
People
Population
1,026
1,379
784Lowest
1,389Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±2.4
50% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
51.9±9.4Lowest
33% 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
12.3%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2Highest
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+
33.2%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2Lowest
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+
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
49%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8Highest
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
$79,803±$5k
about the U.S. average
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$78,625±$8k
about the U.S. average
$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
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$242,000±$26k
27% below U.S.
$253,600±$81k
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
—
$1,113±$170Highest
21% 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
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$4,125
32% above U.S.
$3,977
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2
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
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4Lowest
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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 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.