Compare towns
Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Newmarket
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Wells | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Wells High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.