Compare towns
Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Dexter
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dexter has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
1,379 |
3,822Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
51±6.8Lowest 14% 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Exeter 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Exeter and Dexter 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | — | — | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3 |
| 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.