Compare towns

Durham vs Exeter 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

Durham has the most affordable homes ($322k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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.

MeasureDurhamExeterOgunquit
People
Population
4,262
16,151Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5kLowest
23% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% 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
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 05 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District —
High school in town None 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

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.