Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Exeter vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Exeter | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 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+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 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 | $452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | Exeter High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.