Compare towns
Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Thetford
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%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.
| Measure | Exeter | Ogunquit | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest 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% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% 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. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Thetford 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 |
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.