Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Farmingdale
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Damariscotta has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Farmingdale has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Damariscotta | Exeter | Ogunquit | Farmingdale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,192 |
1,093Lowest |
1,379 |
3,017Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
| 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%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.3%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Farmingdale and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±7.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
47.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Farmingdale and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,635±$15k 4% 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 | $363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$249,700±$46k 16% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
— | $911±$192Lowest 20% below ME |
| Damariscotta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,574 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.6%±58.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
65.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
28.4%±9.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #21 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | — | — | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Hall-Dale Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.8 |
| 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.