Compare towns
Bremen vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bremen has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Damariscotta has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Bremen | Exeter | Ogunquit | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917Lowest |
1,093 |
1,379 |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.1%±9.9 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21k 34% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28k 43% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— | $1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME |
| Damariscotta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829 7% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,806 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.