Compare towns

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

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Wells has the most kids (18% 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.

MeasureOgunquitExeterWells
People
Population
1,379Lowest
16,151Highest
11,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Lowest
18% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
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+
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
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 Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$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
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,350±$297Lowest
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
$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
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
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
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
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #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 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.