Compare towns

Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Saco

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%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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.

MeasureExeterOgunquitSaco
People
Population
16,151
1,379Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Lowest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Saco 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%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Saco 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.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$413,100±$17kLowest
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
—
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
Exeter and Saco 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Saco 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%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 120 in NH — #38 of 133 in ME
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Saco Public Schools
High school in town Exeter High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
— —
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.