Compare towns

Brighton vs Ogunquit vs Wells River vs Newark

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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrightonOgunquitWells RiverNewark
People
Population
1,167
1,379Highest
340Lowest
727
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.7±12.7
10% above U.S.
41.4±6Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±6.5
U.S.: 22%
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Newark and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
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±$21k
41% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$38,688±$5kLowest
52% below U.S.
$72,929±$7k
10% below U.S.
Ogunquit and Newark 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$170,800±$103k
49% below U.S.
$229,900±$23k
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
—
$900±$336
36% below U.S.
$1,708±$97Highest
21% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$4,154
33% above U.S.
$3,771
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
38.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
22.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 min
27% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±8.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Brighton School District — — Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.