Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ogunquit vs Eliot 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Ogunquit | Eliot | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,379 |
7,146Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Alstead 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Eliot 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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.