Compare towns
Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Wales vs Sumner
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%).
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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 | Wales | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,379 |
1,924Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Sumner 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% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Sumner 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% |
15.6% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wales 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$77,004±$5k 3% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% 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±$39k 44% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$250,400±$28k 16% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— | $1,154±$64Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Wales 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 |
$2,578 15% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
83.3%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Wales 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% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 04 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | — | — | Oak Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.