Compare towns
Bath vs Topsham 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
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Topsham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Lowest |
9,706 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Topsham 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest 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. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Mt Ararat High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.