Compare towns

Buxton vs Exeter vs New Gloucester vs Ogunquit

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureBuxtonExeterNew GloucesterOgunquit
People
Population
8,512
16,151Highest
5,766
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±3.9
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
40.1±5.5Lowest
3% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
New Gloucester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,144±$21kLowest
24% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$108,797±$12k
35% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% 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
$356,800±$21kLowest
7% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$357,100±$29k
7% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,613±$266
14% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,150±$249Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,422
10% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$3,417Lowest
10% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.9%±26.5
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.7%±12
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
8.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #104 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH #65 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 06/MSAD 06 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 —
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.