Compare towns

Charleston vs Ogunquit vs Windham 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 the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

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.

MeasureCharlestonOgunquitWindhamBraintree
People
Population
936
1,379Highest
594Lowest
1,026
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±9.3
50% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% 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%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
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%
48.1%
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%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$49,286±$17kLowest
39% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$79,803±$5k
about the U.S. average
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.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$979±$444Highest
31% below U.S.
— —
$840±$405Lowest
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
$3,750Lowest
20% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% 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%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±29.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Braintree and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
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%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer 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
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.7%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Charleston School District — — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
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.