Compare towns
Exeter vs Freeport vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Kennebunk has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Freeport | Kennebunk | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,802 |
6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 05 | — | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Freeport High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.