Compare towns
Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Fairfield vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Fairfield has the most renters (21.4% rent).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Fairfield | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
1,379 |
6,519Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.1±4 4% below ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Fairfield 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% |
17.7%±3.5 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Fairfield 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 |
$64,101±$11kLowest 14% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| 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±$39k 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
— | $1,001±$101Highest 12% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Fairfield 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,217 27% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Fairfield 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% |
10.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #47 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Lawrence High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3 |
— |
| 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.