Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Readfield
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Newfields | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,142 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Readfield 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Readfield 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.