Compare towns
Dexter vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Southwest Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Southwest Harbor has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Dexter | Exeter | Ogunquit | Southwest Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,852Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,379 |
1,553 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±7.8 14% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.9±9.3Lowest 9% 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 | 18.6%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.5%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.7Lowest 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 | $53,654±$25kLowest 28% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$59,205±$21k 21% 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 | $138,200±$50kLowest 53% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,500±$35k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $827±$117Lowest 27% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $959±$50 16% below ME |
| Exeter and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,962 35% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,479 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±23.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.4%±18.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Southwest Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
55.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 12% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
16 minLowest 36% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Southwest Harbor Public Schools |
| High school 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.