Compare towns

Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Brewer

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureExeterOgunquitBrewer
People
Population
16,151Highest
1,379Lowest
9,652
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer 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.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
—
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Brewer 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 120 in NH — #32 of 133 in ME
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Exeter High School — Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.