Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Lewiston
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 homeowners (95.4%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lewiston has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Durham | Exeter | Ogunquit | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
16,151 |
1,379Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lewiston and Durham 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% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below 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±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below 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% |
51.7%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lewiston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.