Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs Stratham vs Newcastle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Newcastle has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | Bristol | Ogunquit | Stratham | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 57% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.4±7 27% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$89,868±$33kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54k 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$398,000±$41kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,363±$81 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,256 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.8%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 33% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 133 in ME | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.