Compare towns
Essex vs Ogunquit vs Gloucester vs Hadley
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 renters (36.1% rent).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Essex | Ogunquit | Gloucester | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,701 |
1,379Lowest |
30,075Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%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. |
45.8±7.1 18% 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% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
24.2%±4.8 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% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Ogunquit 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. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$600,600±$18k 81% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kLowest 54% 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±$94 about the U.S. average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 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. |
$5,271 69% 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% |
38.6%±18.9 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% |
6.4% 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% |
73.4% 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. |
1971 9 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 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% 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% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 282 in MA | — | #164 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Manchester Essex Regional | — | Gloucester | Hadley |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gloucester High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.