Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most kids (17% 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 | Meredith | Ogunquit | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,379Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% 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 | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.