Compare towns

Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Exeter vs Topsham

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%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

MeasureFreeportOgunquitExeterTopsham
People
Population
8,802
1,379Lowest
16,151Highest
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%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±2.3
18% above U.S.
44.7±4Lowest
15% 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%
19.9%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Topsham 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%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Lowest
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%
50%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%
4.9%±1.8
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.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% 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.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
—
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,355±$642Lowest
4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Exeter 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%
6.4%
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%
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 133 in ME — #22 of 120 in NH #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Freeport High School — Exeter High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
—
12.1Lowest
12.2Highest
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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.