Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ogunquit vs New Gloucester vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
New Gloucester has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Essex has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Hamilton | Ogunquit | New Gloucester | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,766 |
3,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Essex and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% 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 | $1,794±$394 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Essex and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.