Compare towns
Groton vs Ogunquit vs Topsham vs Waterford
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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Waterford has the shortest commute (24 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 | Groton | Ogunquit | Topsham | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,379Highest |
999 |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,375±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$271,500±$22k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
— | $908±$398Highest 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
$4,238 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.