Compare towns
Buxton vs Ogunquit vs Stratham vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Buxton | Ogunquit | Stratham | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
1,379Lowest |
7,754 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% 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 | $356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Lowest 14% above U.S. |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.