Compare towns
Charleston vs Ogunquit vs Brighton vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Charleston | Ogunquit | Brighton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,379Highest |
1,167 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4 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 | 11.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 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+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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 | $49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Highest 31% below U.S. |
— | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$840±$405 41% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Charleston School District | — | Brighton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None 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.