Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ogunquit vs Orford vs Bridgewater
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Orford has the youngest population (median age 48.9).
Bridgewater 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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Ogunquit | Orford | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,379Highest |
1,295 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Orford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Rivendell Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.



