Compare towns
Arundel vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arundel has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k 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 | Arundel | Exeter | Ogunquit | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,418 |
16,151Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.8±2 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Arundel and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,597±$17k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62k 27% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763 21% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.