Compare towns

Bath vs Exeter vs Rye vs Woolwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most renters (35.7% rent).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

MeasureBathExeterRyeWoolwich
People
Population
8,815
16,151Highest
5,611
3,158Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Lowest
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
55.8±5.5Highest
43% above U.S.
Woolwich and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Woolwich and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Bath 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
14% below U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$102,175±$26k
27% above U.S.
Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30k
7% below U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$254,500±$59kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
—
Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$2,433Lowest
22% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woolwich and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.9%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #22 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #92 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Rye School District RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town Morse High School Exeter High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
12.1Lowest
— —
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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.