Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Exeter vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoinham has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k 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.
| Measure | Bowdoinham | Exeter | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bowdoin and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,479±$21k 34% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bowdoinham 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 | #73 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.