What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Exeter
People
Population	8,815Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.4±3Lowest about the ME average	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,390±$12kLowest 7% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$310,900±$30kHighest 5% above ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Highest 8% below ME	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME
	Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Highest 27% above ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the ME average	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	19.3%±6Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bath and Exeter 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	#31 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	—
High school in town	Morse High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.