Compare towns

Brighton vs Ludlow vs Ogunquit vs Charleston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureBrightonLudlowOgunquitCharleston
People
Population
1,167
808Lowest
1,379Highest
936
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±11.6Lowest
16% above U.S.
48.7±5.6
25% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
58.4±9.3
50% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
11.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Brighton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±0.5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
37.7%±8.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
13.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$56,667±$19k
30% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$49,286±$17k
39% below U.S.
Ogunquit and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$304,000±$32k
9% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$238,000±$53k
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
$1,018±$91Highest
28% below U.S.
—
$979±$444
31% below U.S.
Ludlow and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$3,750
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33%±13.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±26.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.4%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.3%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.7%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Brighton School District — — Charleston School District
High school 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.