Compare towns
Essex vs Ogunquit vs Fairfax
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Fairfax has the most affordable homes ($378k 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 | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfax and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 11% above U.S. |
— | $1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 70 in VT | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.