Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most renters (20.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($389k 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 | Wells | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,379 |
11,713Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2 56% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Freedom 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Freedom 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% |
31%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Freedom 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Wells 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. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$3,478 12% 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% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.