Compare towns
Exeter vs Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Topsham
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 most renters (30.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Freeport | Ogunquit | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Freeport 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 05 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Freeport High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | 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.