Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead 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 most renters (30.9% rent).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Hampstead | Kennebunk | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,102 |
6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk 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% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45k 57% 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. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
3.8% 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% |
82.1% 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. |
1988Highest 8 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. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.