Compare towns

Exeter vs Gardiner vs Newfields 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.

MeasureExeterGardinerNewfieldsOgunquit
People
Population
16,151Highest
6,088
2,023
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
42±3.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Exeter 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.
$71,782±$10kLowest
11% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$221,600±$19kLowest
33% below U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,113±$191Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
—
Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$2,742Lowest
12% below U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Gardiner 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%
10.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 120 in NH #36 of 133 in ME — —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 11/MSAD 11 Newfields School District —
High school in town Exeter High School Gardiner Area High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.8Lowest
— —
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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.