Compare towns
Charleston vs Ogunquit vs Windham vs Brighton
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%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% 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 | Charleston | Ogunquit | Windham | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,379 |
19,188Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Brighton 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 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+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
— | $1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Windham and Charleston 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% 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% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Charleston 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Charleston School District | — | RSU 14 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.