Compare towns
Exeter vs Jefferson vs Ogunquit vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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 | Exeter | Jefferson | Ogunquit | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
2,647Highest |
1,379 |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
— | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Jefferson 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.