Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Gorham vs Ogunquit vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Bridgewater | Gorham | Ogunquit | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,379 |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% 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 | 10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Public Schools | — | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.