Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Exeter vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Richmond has the most kids (23% 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 | Bowdoin | Exeter | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,566 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.9±3.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$65,854±$10kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$242,700±$27kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,077±$166Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 8% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±23.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Richmond 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Richmond Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Richmond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.