Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Gray vs Ogunquit vs Alstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gray has the most kids (19% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureBridgewaterGrayOgunquitAlstead
People
Population
1,169Lowest
8,429Highest
1,379
1,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.3±6.3
50% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Lowest
12% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
56±3.3
44% 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%
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Alstead 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%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6
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
$82,361±$9k
about the U.S. average
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
Ogunquit and Gray 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.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$201Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
— —
Gray 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.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$5,322Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.1%±13.6
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
8%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #10 of 133 in ME — —
School district Newfound Area School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences — Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5
— —
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.