Compare towns
Charleston vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($157k 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 | Charleston | Exeter | Ogunquit | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,117 |
1,093Lowest |
1,379Highest |
1,305 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.9Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.5±6.1 6% 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 | 19.4%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Charleston and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±3.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hudson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,250±$20k about the ME average |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$67,933±$12kLowest 9% 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 | $226,500±$17k 24% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$157,300±$9kLowest 47% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$870Lowest 13% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
— | $1,086±$307Highest 5% below ME |
| Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,811 40% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,543Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
10.3%±51.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Charleston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 5% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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.