Compare towns
Canaan vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Canaan | Exeter | Ogunquit | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,063Highest |
1,093 |
1,379 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±6.1Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Canaan and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±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 | $57,781±$13k 23% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,900±$28k 46% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $922±$252Lowest 19% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | — |
| Exeter and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,530Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.3%±27.3 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 38% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 54/MSAD 54 | — | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None 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.