Compare towns
Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Exeter vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Freeport | Ogunquit | Exeter | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14kLowest 29% 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 | $508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.