Compare towns
Webster vs Ogunquit vs Eliot vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Webster | Ogunquit | Eliot | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,379Lowest |
7,146 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.