Compare towns
Jefferson vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most renters (16.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Somerville 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 | Jefferson | Ogunquit | Wakefield | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647 |
1,379 |
5,405Highest |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
33.5±11.3Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$71,250±$15kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35k 6% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$218,100±$41kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,583±$265Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Somerville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 17% below U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±58.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 133 in ME | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | — | Wakefield School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None 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.