Compare towns
Newton vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Newton | Ogunquit | Saco | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
1,379Lowest |
20,819 |
38,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11k 73% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S. |
— | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,116±$98 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,923 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | — | Saco Public Schools | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Newton North High | — | None in town | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | — | 14.4Highest |
| 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.