Compare towns
Buxton vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Gorham
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Buxton | Exeter | Ogunquit | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
16,151 |
1,379Lowest |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Gorham 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 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% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.