Compare towns
Cornish vs Exeter vs North Berwick 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
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.6% 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.
| Measure | Cornish | Exeter | North Berwick | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,803 |
16,151Highest |
1,702 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.1±8.2 3% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,038±$4kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$98,317±$69k 22% 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 | $274,200±$84kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$346,900±$86k 4% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,196±$148 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,088±$247Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,309Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,164 about the U.S. average |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.8%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.