Compare towns
Wells vs Rockport 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Wells | Rockport | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
3,675Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% 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 | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #8 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Camden Hills Regional H S | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.