Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Hooksett vs Ogunquit vs Gardiner

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureEllsworthHooksettOgunquitGardiner
People
Population
8,657
15,057Highest
1,379Lowest
6,088
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42±3.6
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$71,782±$10kLowest
11% below U.S.
Hooksett and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22k
27% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$221,600±$19kLowest
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
—
$1,113±$191
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262
5% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$2,742Lowest
12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH — #36 of 133 in ME
School district Ellsworth Public Schools Hooksett School District — RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town Ellsworth High School None in town — Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
— —
11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 5 photos → 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.