Compare towns

Exeter vs Mechanic Falls vs Ogunquit

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).
Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% 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.

MeasureExeterMechanic FallsOgunquit
People
Population
1,093Lowest
3,134Highest
1,379
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.6±7.7
17% above ME
39.8±4.7Lowest
11% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% 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
9%±3.1
ME: 18.1%
24.1%±7.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
23.9%±11.4
ME: 22.4%
16.4%±6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
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%
15.6%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
2%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
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
$84,408±$12k
13% above ME
$69,914±$12kLowest
6% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above 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
$166,700±$39kLowest
44% below ME
$270,900±$44k
9% below ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$995±$386Lowest
13% below ME
$1,076±$208Highest
6% below ME
—
Mechanic Falls 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
$2,993
about the ME average
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±73.8
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±20.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Mechanic Falls 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%
9.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
43% above ME
26 minLowest
5% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
10.3%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
7.9%±4.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #122 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 16 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.