Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Wells 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

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
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.

MeasureOgunquitWellsExeter
People
Population
1,379Lowest
11,713
16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Lowest
18% above U.S.
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
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%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
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.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% 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
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above 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.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
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%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #22 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH
School district — Wells-Ogunquit CSD Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town — Wells High School Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.