Compare towns
North Berwick 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
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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 | North Berwick | Ogunquit | Exeter | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,129 |
1,379Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%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 | 41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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+ | 29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$16k 26% 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 | $428,500±$33kLowest 29% 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 | $1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,735 20% 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 | 66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% 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 | 1983 3 yrs newer than 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 | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Noble High School | — | Exeter High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | 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.