Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Kennebunk 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
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Kennebunk has the most kids (17.7% 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 | Eliot | Exeter | Kennebunk | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,151Highest |
11,820 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% 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 | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Kennebunk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| 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.