Compare towns

Exeter vs Meredith 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 kids (17% under 18).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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.

MeasureExeterMeredithOgunquit
People
Population
16,151Highest
6,758
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Lowest
18% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Meredith 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%
34.2%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Meredith 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%
45.9%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%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Ogunquit 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.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% 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±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Meredith 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%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
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 #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District —
High school in town Exeter High School Inter-Lakes High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.1Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 59 photos → 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.