Compare towns
Essex vs Ogunquit vs Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gloucester has the most affordable homes ($601k 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.
| Measure | Essex | Ogunquit | Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,701 |
1,379Lowest |
30,075Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.2±2.3 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$83,883±$6kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$600,600±$18kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
— | $1,411±$94Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,152 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gloucester and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 282 in MA | — | #164 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Manchester Essex Regional | — | Gloucester |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gloucester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.