Compare towns
Bath vs Exeter vs West Bath vs Brewer
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
West Bath has the most homeowners (82.3%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% 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.
| Measure | Bath | Exeter | West Bath | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
16,151Highest |
1,863Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and West Bath 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±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brewer 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Bath 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | West Bath Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.